Enjoy your Christmas, phoren ishtyle

PUNE: Christmas decorations are getting innovative. And thanks to imports, they are affordable too. Revolving optic fibre Christmas trees, musical wreaths, giantsized Christmas bells, and exquisite decorations are fighting for shelf-space at decked-up Christmas stores in the city. Starting at an affordable Rs 250, the imported Christmas trees from Taiwan are pleasing shoppers.From two and-a-half to six feet high, the trees are available in many varieties too, like the one imported from China, which is capped in make-believe snow! The fibre optic trees, however, come at a price. The tallest, five-and-a-half-feet, costs a phenomenal Rs 35,000. The traditional holly-leaved wreaths are a vision to behold, each ornate with a zillion decorations hung on it. Some of them are musical too, ringing in the Christmas spirit with Jingle bells. Italian crib sets, figurines for the nativity scene made of poly stone, are available this year as well. Santa Claus, the popular Christmas buy for children, continues to thrill and excite as Santa toys can now sing and dance to popular Christmas tunes. And for those who want the real thing, Santa costumes, white beard and all, are available on hire at some Christmas stores. Hugely popular with the young and hip crowd, the Santa caps seem to have become a must have fashion accessory this Christmas. Of course, there can be no Christmas without gifts, with toys topping most of the wish lists for Santa this season. Speaking of popular gifts, Ivo DeMello of J.P. DeMello store had a ready answer "Chocolates, cakes and kisses," he said, were the clear favourites this Christmas season.