In Yen Cu parish, Yen Cu village, Tan Soi commune (Yen The district), some parishioners are busy preparing to welcome Christmas. People together decorate electric lights, pine trees and cave area.

Parishioners of Yen Cu parish, Tan Soi commune decorate the stone cave to prepare for Christmas.

Parish head Dinh Ngoc Quang said: "The parish has more than 800 parishioners. This year, due to the complicated development of the Covid-19, only the Christmas celebration is held on the evening of December 24 with limited attendees. There are no cultural, artistic and sports activities like every year. All parishioners selected to attend the ceremony must wear face masks, wash hands with sanitizer, keep a prescribed distance and scan the QR code".

In Tien Luc commune (Lang Giang district), Hoang Van Tuan, Chairman of the communal People's Committee said with nearly 2,000 parishioners living in the locality, the communal People's Committee has persuaded Catholics not to invite friends and relatives to their homes and the church to celebrate Christmas. The decoration is simple and economical but still solemn.

This year, Tien Luc parish (Lang Giang) organizes Christmas celebration simply, ensuring epidemic prevention.

Many parishes in the province also plan to not organize festivals and performances. Some will hold Christmas celebrations online to ensure safety against the epidemic.

The People's Committees of districts and city have sent written requests to communes, wards and professional agencies to strengthen communications and encourage dignitaries to set an example, be self-disciplined and responsible in the implementation of Christmas celebration activities, with Covid-19 prevention and control measures being in place in line with the regulations of the Health Ministry and local authorities. They must disseminate such regulations on the loudspeaker system, especially wearing masks, and limiting mass gatherings.

Not only parishes and Catholic families, the Christmas atmosphere is also bustling at shops selling decorations on Nguyen Van Cu, Le Loi and Thanh Thien streets (Bac Giang city). Just choosing Santa's clothes for her daughter at a store on Nguyen Van Cu street, Nguyen Thi Ha from Nguyen Cao street (Bac Giang city) happily said: "This year, due to the pandemic, children are not allowed to go out. So I buy gifts for my children and choose the service of Santa Claus delivering gifts at home to make them happier."

People choose Christmas gifts for children at a shop on Nguyen Van Cu street (Bac Giang city).

Through the survey, the service of Santa Claus delivering gifts to children in the city has received many orders. Not only Bac Giang Post Office, a number of shops selling souvenirs and children's toys also provide this service.

According to Nguyen Thi Ngoc, owner of a toy store on Thanh Thien street (Bac Giang city), this time she has received 40 orders. To ensure epidemic prevention and control, the staff playing the role of Santa Claus are all vaccinated with two vaccine doses, have samples taken for testing before the gift delivery day (December 23) and wear masks when delivering. Currently, she is wrapping the ordered gifts, waiting for the scheduled date to hand over to the delivery staff to create unexpected joy for the kids.

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