Christmas in the Marianas concludes with a blast

Organizers wrapped up the last day of the Christmas in the Marianas by announcing the winners of the float, caroling, and tree decoration contests while hosting the Mochitsuki Festival celebration over the weekend.

Green Meadow School parents, teachers, students, and other staff smile while posing with their giant $5,000 check after winning the Christmas Tree decoration contest as the 2014 Christmas in the Marianas concluded last Saturday at the Paseo de Marianas. (Jayson Camacho)

Thousands of community members and tourists were wowed by various entertainment from schools and other organizations.

Saipan Awaodori Team kicked off the night with their performances at 5pm and did the opening dance before the Mochitsuki Festival.

After the performances, the Saipan Awaodori then proceeded off stage to start off the Mochitsuki Festival’s pounding of the rice.

Both community members and tourists were called up by Paseo de Marianas Promoters, Inc. members to join in pounding the rice for the preparation of the mochi.

Mochi is Japanese rice cake made of mochigome, short-grain japonica glutinous rice. The rice is pounded into paste and molded into the desired shape. In Japan it is traditionally made in a ceremony called mochitsuki.

PDM Promoters president Misako Kamata said that this is their seventh time tailending the Christmas in the Marianas with the Mochitsuki Festival.

“It is a Japanese custom and the mochi is prepared during Christmas before New Year so Japanese people would eat the mocha during New Year. I am very happy with the outcome we had very plenty guests joining us in preparing the mochi,” Kamata said.

Aside from the Mochistuki Festival, organizers also announced the winners of the Christmas tree decoration, Christmas float, and Christmas caroling contests.

Green Meadow School was the big winner that night walking with the highest cash prize among the other contests for the Christmas tree decoration. Green Meadow School won with 274 points. Northern Marianas International School won second place, while Koblerville Elementary won third place.

Green Meadow School president Milagros A. Merjilla said that she was happy that their school won the Christmas tree decoration contest.

Merjilla said that the prize money will be used for school projects such as the restroom and the equipment playground.

“The decoration we made it a month before the event. The parents, teachers, and students also contributed in helping and did hard work making the tree,” Merjilla.

For the caroling contest, Koblerville Elementary won for the elementary category taking home $1,000. For the middle school, Chacha Oceanview Junior High School won first place with a $1,000, and Saipan Southern High School was first place for the high school category taking home $1,000 as well.

Chacha Oceanview also won the float contest with the prize money of $1,550.

Marianas Visitors Authority community projects manager Martin Duenas said that the last day was a great turnout and overall for all the rest of the Saturdays.

“The performers were great tonight and the guest are enjoying the Mochitsuki Festival. The significance about tonight though is the announcement of the winners,” Duenas said.

Duenas said that this year there were more cultural feature displays in the performances and also more schools participated.

“It is gaining more momentum from what it was before,” he said.