Masterton lacking a festive Christmas

Heading to Kuripuni, our Christmas spirits were lifted to great heights with every business and shop in the settlement blazing brightly with decorations.

WHATEVER has happened to Masterton's Christmas spirit?

While there was some excitement with the Christmas parade well attended along with the 12 Nights of Christmas, our central business streets are bereft of decorations and flags hailing the festive season.

Coming from Rotorua where flags fly high for just about every event and celebration, it was rather a shock for my partner and I one evening during the weekend to find our town lacking in festive joy.

Heading south along Chapel St, there was little to let motorists know the festive season was upon us until you hit the Town Square where the first of 12 nights rocking in the special day was on.

Heading to Kuripuni, our Christmas spirits were lifted to great heights with every business and shop in the settlement blazing brightly with decorations.

The wishing tree, as our granddaughter calls it, well lit up for the world to see.

But our joy soon dropped as we headed north along Queen St.

Yes the odd shop had a Christmas tree in the window but, apart from that ... nothing.

No bright flags with bells or Chrissy-type decorations hanging anywhere - not a Santa Claus in sight.

Come on Masterton District Council, this is a bumper town with a lot of Christmas spirit but where is the joyfulness of the season?

Our lamp-posts should be hanging with bright festive cheer.

While many families are struggling and some parents dread the thought of forking out for expensive gifts while the power bill has a disconnection notice attached, the only bright thing about the season is what they see on our streets.

Nothing to entice our meagre spending that's for sure.

How else are you going to entice people to open their wallets and spending their money locally during such a time of celebration and giving?