Christmas Eve 2022, Streets Rejuvenated with Energy

The Christian Association of Changwon City, Gyeongnam, is presenting a performance at Sangnam Fountain Square in Changwon to celebrate Christmas Eve. / Photo by Ryeong Lee ryeong@

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Seryeong] "This year, I hope for a lively Christmas Eve."

That was the wish of many last year. They hoped to regain the festive spirit of Christmas that was taken away by the resurgence of COVID-19 and the outbreak of variant viruses.

The Christmas Eve, the first since the lifting of social distancing measures, began on the 24th.

The Changwon Christian Association in Gyeongnam is holding a Christmas Eve performance. / Photo by Ryeong Lee ryeong@

As evening fell, singing echoed at the fountain square in Sangnam-dong, Seongsan-gu, Changwon City, Gyeongnam Province.

The Changwon City Christian Association was celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ by sharing food and offering songs and dances.

People passing by with gifts and cakes gathered in the square, cheering and applauding.

Customers are dining inside the store. Photo by Se-ryeong Lee ryeong@

The shops, which had only been filled with merchants' sighs, were now full of customers' conversations and laughter.

Merchants, overwhelmed by the line of customers waiting in front of their stores and the flood of orders, could not hide their smiles, saying, "The year-end Christmas special sales, which had been fading, have finally returned."

Sangnam-dong, Seongsan-gu, Changwon-si, Gyeongnam is bustling with vehicles and crowds. Photo by Se-ryeong Lee ryeong@

After 8 p.m., vehicles on the road formed longer lines and the number of people roaming the streets increased.

The streets, which had been bleak at the same time last year, seemed to have regained their vitality.

Merchant A said, "For the past three years, even during the year-end, I only saw empty shops with fewer customers, but today, seeing customers lined up in front of the store brings tears to my eyes," adding, "I am happy that things have returned to normal."

Citizen B said, "Last year, I only bought a cake and spent Christmas quietly at home, but this year, I’m glad to gather with friends, take commemorative photos, and talk and play freely."

C said, "This year, the church also held a Christmas Eve event, so I prepared a play diligently," adding, "Until now, we only celebrated through videos, but I am grateful to be able to come out and rejoice in Jesus' birth together with people."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.