Christmas in the Tropics
 Christmas in the Tropics is the umbrella branding for the line-up of celebratory events during the year-end festive season in Singapore. This year, Christmas in the Tropics is taking place from Nov 13-Jan 2, 2005. The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) is promoting Christmas celebrations under the umbrella branding of Christmas in the Tropics at the Ispahani Centre, Nungambakkam, in Chennai, where a series of events would be held.
Bridget Goh, the area director of The Singapore Tourism Board, said the STB aims to develop a strong and exciting line-up of Christmas in the Tropics events.
The following are the programmes lined up as part of this package of events:
 Christmas Light Up @ Ispahani Centre: December 4 to Jan 2,
2005- 6.30-11 p.m.
Wish for Charity & Sate of Greeting Cards by Concern India Foundation-
1-9 p.m.
Charity Weekends by Concern India Foundation: December
12- 3-7 p.m.
Charity Weekend by Christmas Fair Association: December
11- 3-7 p.m.
Marry Brown Christmas Carnival: December 24-26, 4 p.m. onwards
Sweet Chariot Cafe Christmas Carnival: December 20-23, 2-8 p.m.
Christmas @ Ispahani Grand Draw: December 31
Announcement of winners: December 31.
The Christmas Fair Association is an association of women which has been in existence for close to 40 years. It was started by the British Women's Association. Some of the present members have been members for over 30 years.
The fair is run each year on the first Saturday of December. The main aim is to raise funds for several beneficiary institutions and to allow them to showcase and sell their handicrafts.
 From August of each year, letters of appeal are sent to philanthropic-minded individuals and others. Many of them respond year after year very generously by way of donation cheques or gifts. The gifts are used to give away as prizes. A lot of food items are received which are sold at reasonable rates to enable the economically backward to also attend the fair. Games are conducted to keep the young and the young at heart occupied, in keeping with the festive season.
The association does not spend money on establishment as there are no paid employees. Everyone is a voluntary worker. Therefore, all the amounts collected are given away to charity.
A Christmas Fair was held by the organisation at the Madras Seva Sadan on December 4, in aid of Mercy Home, Little Sisters of the Poor, Little Flower Convent, Shanti Bhawan, Salvation Army and other charities.
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