As diverse communities, cultures, and faiths converged on the streets, the “Heartwarming Christmas” theme echoed through the air, fostering harmony and goodwill among Sarawakians.
Colourful Joy
Kuching got into the festive mood a little early this year with a Christmas parade on December 2.
During the much-anticipated Kuching Christmas Parade 2023, a kaleidoscope of colours and joyful melodies filled the streets in the heart of Kuching City.
With a symphony of carols sung in unison by the participating church groups, the familiar festive tunes echoed through the air, generating a sense of warmth and nostalgia that transcended religious boundaries.
The parade this year, which drew over 5,000 Christians, was co-organised by the Association of Churches Sarawak (ACS) and the Sarawak Evangelical Christian Association (SECA). The event was hosted by the Sarawak Chinese Annual Conference (SCAC) Methodist Church.
“A Heartwarming Christmas” is the theme of this year’s parade. It is a celebration of unity and harmony among Sarawakians of all faiths, cultures, languages, and ethnicities.
Among those taking part are the Methodist Church, the Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican Church, the Borneo Evangelical Mission (SIB) Church, the Sarawak Baptist Church, the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, the Sarawak Blessed Church, the Salvation Army, the Boys’ Brigade, the Girls’ Brigade, and Grace Central Church.
The opening prayer was led by Kuching Roman Catholic Archbishop Simon Poh. The congregation then sung “O Holy Night” before the parade started.
Also present at the event were Kuching South City Council (MBKS) mayor Datuk Wee Hong Seng and the Unit for Other Religions (Unifor) director Datuk Jack Aman Luat.
Families, friends, well-wishers, and onlookers from all walks of life, races, and religious backgrounds, including foreign tourists, gathered along the parade route from the Kuching Jubilee Ground to the street of Padungan, the Kuching Waterfront, Temple Street, Jalan Ban Hock, and back to the Jubilee Ground.
The parade featured a procession of 15 beautifully adorned Christmas-themed floats designed and constructed by different church groups.
The great attention to detail in creating the land floats demonstrated not just the participants’ creativity, but also their dedication to making the event a visual spectacle.
Colourful lights adorned the floats, giving a mesmerising glow that illuminated the night and added a touch of beauty and holiness to the festivities. Light is seen as a powerful symbol of hope in Christianity.
Participants dressed up in vibrant costumes and marched in harmony, emphasising the universal message of peace and goodwill. In keeping with the Christmas spirit, participants distributed gifts and goodies to spectators along the route.
The streets echoed with the rhythmic beating of drums and the harmonising sounds of musical instruments performed by six marching bands from the Boys’ and Girls’ Brigades, as well as music and songs performed by musicians on board some of the land floats.
The participation of various church groups in and around Kuching strengthened the ties that bind the Christian community together, fostering a sense of solidarity and shared purpose. Additionally, it is a display of the harmony, tolerance, and respect that all of Sarawak’s different groups have for one another.
