Yahneake Sterling, Staff Reporter

These little ones were overjoyed to cuddle with Santa Claus at the annual Christmas tree-lighting ceremony at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel, on December 3. - photos by Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer

The warmth and cheer of the Christmas season spread as wild fire through the lobby of Jamaica Pegasus, last Sunday, as the hotel celebrated the start of the yuletide season with their annual Christmas tree-lighting ceremony.

The night got off to a slow start with Rohan Nugent of the food and beverage department whetting the appetite of the audience with the famed carol, O Holy Night.

However, it was the award- winning Papine High School choir that got the audience to move in their seats as they delivered Now behold the Lamb, Joy, and later Glory.

As the ceremony changed gears, the Pegasus Chorale kept the entertainment flowing with its rendition of Come all ye faithful, Do you see what I see, but it was during their delivery of Follow his sign that the audience got what they came for, the lighting of the Christmas tree.

The ceremony then switched into higher gear again when Terrence Donniegan of the Swallowfield Chapel put on an energetic performance as he signed My Jesus.

Fun-filled performance

The climax of the night came when male group, TO-ISIS, took the stage with a fun-filled performance.

They delivered a string of popular Christmas carols including Silent Night (both in English and Spanish), Give Love on Christmas Day, and Irie Christmas in the Sun.

It was, however, their rendition of Mek Di Christmas Catch Yuh in a Good Mood that got members of the audience out of their seats rocking to the rhythms and bringing back the old time ska.

The group then reluctantly brought down the curtain with Now that We Found Love.

Persons in attendance included former People's National Party (PNP) Member of Parliament, Dr. Karl Blythe and Ambassador Madge Barrett.