Whether you were at the lake, at church, or sitting down to a meal with total strangers, the Christmas spirit was alive and well around Otago and Southland yesterday. Hundreds of people gathered for community Christmas lunches, such as in Invercargill, where the tables were set for 200 revellers. Mrs Biddle said the event was an opportunity for people who might not have had the opportunity otherwise to celebrate Christmas Day together. They put aside their own lives to come and help out people and I think that’s the Christmas spirit, isn’t it?" In Alexandra, a gloomy day did not stop the cheer for about 100 revellers at the Alexandra Community Christmas Day Barbecue Lunch.

Source: Otago Daily Times December 25, 2019 15:33 UTC