17 December, 2000

Christmas preparation

With Christmas a week away, preparations have begun at the South Pole. Christmas is one of the few holidays observed at the South Pole, and is spread across three days. On Saturday night there will be a gift exchange, Sunday night a large dinner, and Monday, Christmas day, there will be the annual race around the world.

Today preparations began for the Christmas feast. Along with Thanksgiving, these are the two biggest meals at the South Pole. Dinner preparation will be spread across the week, with everyone helping out a bit in the kitchen peeling potatoes, making pies, washing dishes, etc. Today we decorated gingerbread houses, which will be on display in the galley for the next week. An amazing assortment of candies were brought out from the woodwork to decorate the houses, including 4 inch tall marshmallow penguins.