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The rainy weather didn’t dampen the
spirits of the more than 300 parents and kids who turned out for the 2nd
Annual Khronicles Children’s Christmas Card Competition and Tree-Lighting
Festival held on December 9 in the parking lot of co-sponsor Cosmos Super
Market, Kokkini Hani.
Khronicles publisher Sofia Klidi with mayor Nikolakaki who lit up the
Christmas tree
However, at the last minute, the
inclement weather did force some of the celebration indoors, and Yiorgos
Hatzakis, owner of Hatzis
Taverna, located directly across the road from the parking lot, offered the
sheltered deck of his taverna as an alternate site for some of the
activities.
Indoors or out, the kids were not to
be disappointed, as they eagerly awaited the judging of the Christmas Card
Competition and, then, the arrival of the man himself – Santa Claus.
Asked to create a holiday card with
the theme What Christmas means to me,
there were over 100 entries in two categories – nine and under and 10 to
12.
The difficult job of judging the
cards was in the hands of Katerina Sarma, a painter and instructor at the
Iraklion School of Arts, and Christine Boladz, a noted painter with a studio
in Iraklion.
While the cards were being reviewed,
the party-goers were treated to holiday music and carols by a group from the
Iraklion School of Music, and a violin and piano duet by Stephanie and
Marianna Kapsetaki.
In addition to the music, there were
tables loaded with complimentary sweets, snacks and refreshments, which were
contributed by many of the town’s shops and businesses.
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On hand for the festivities was
Gouves Mayor Yiorgos Nikolakakis, who officially flicked the switch lighting
the three-meter high, gaily decorated tree, while the crowd around him sang
Christmas carols. The tree will remain lit throughout the holiday season in
the Cosmos parking lot.
After the tree-lighting, the judges
were ready with their decisions, and the eager crowd gathered around as the
announcements were made.
In the nine and under group,
four-year-old Mike won first prize. The other winners were: Antigoni Hatzaki, 5 – 2nd Place;
Nikos Henkel, 9 – 3rd
Place; Kallia Hatzaki, 7 – 4th Place, and Kleanthi
Somaraki, 7 – 5th
Place.
In the 10 to 12 category, Katerina Panayiotopoulou, 9½, copped First Place. Other
winners were: Anis Moudavaris,
11 -2nd Place; Vasiliki, 9½, & Yiorgos,
13, teamed up for 3rd
Place honours; Manolis Hatzakis, 10, won 4th Place,
and Dimitris Syndihakis, 10, took
5th Place.
As the last of the prizes were
awarded, the sound of bells was heard, and suddenly Santa, his bag bulging
with gifts, came down from the roof of Cosmos Super Market with a jolly
ho, ho, ho – to the delight of
the cheering children.
One by one, the kids lined up to
greet Santa, telling him what they wanted for Christmas, while his “little”
elves, Christine and Sasha, distributed gifts from his bag.
After Santa’s departure, the kids
were treated further to a hilarious performance by Peter the Clown, who kept
the crowd entertained with his antics and balloon tricks.
As a final announcement, Sofia Klidi,
publisher of The Khronicles,
thanked Yianni Fragiathaki, owner of Cosmos Super Market and co-sponsor of
the festival, and all the contributors for helping to make the evening a
success.
By the end of the evening, as the
happy crowd began making its way home – all the children with gifts in their
hands – the parting words of Santa Claus could still be heard echoing
through the streets of Kokkini Hani –
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.
Some of the Christmas card competition winners
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