As the festive season sweeps into the city, Chennai begins to glow — churches string up lights, streets brim with last-minute shoppers, and homes ready themselves with their annual holiday makeover. For some, it is the joy of bringing home a new Christmas tree; for others, it is about dressing up the trusted old ones with new ornaments.
At Rahaman Decoration in Parry’s corner.
At Parry’s Corner, the holiday rush is in full swing, especially inside Rahaman Decoration Centre, a 30-year-old wholesale shop teeming with parents, children, and couples sifting through endless aisles. The crowd here is not aiming for a trendy pink Christmas tree or ceramic Santa, but the charm of old school decor — star lanterns, plastic Santa masks, nativity sets and everything reminiscent of Christmases past. “It’s quite a busy time for us. This is when everyone starts shopping, and being a wholesale shop, we get customers ranging from store owners to college and school teachers,” says Afreen Fathima, daughter of Syed Karimulah, the owner of Rahaman Decoration Centre.
A view of Christmas decorations at the Advent Christmas Store in Nungambakkam.
| Photo Credit:
VELANKANNI RAJ B
At Advent Christmas Store on RK Salai, Josh Groban’s ‘Believe’ is playing in the background as a couple debates which decor would best suit their living room. The shop itself feels like a miniature Christmas wonderland — its aisles packed with ornaments and decor that replicate the very English and American Christmas aesthetic. From vibrant colour Christmas trees to carousel figurines, and even ceramic mugs and bowls, the store is brimming with festive charm. Founded in 2019 by siblings Tinu Santiago and Alex, Advent has already grown to three outlets in Bengaluru, Kochi, and Chennai.
Christmas decorations at Advent Christmas Store.
| Photo Credit:
VELANKANNI RAJ B
“We’ve been crazy about Christmas since we were kids. In 2018, we joked about doing something with that passion, and before we knew it, six months later, we were actually working on it,” says Tinu. This year, Advent Chennai’s standout piece is a seven feet- Alaskan white Christmas tree with an elf attached to it — press a button, and it springs to life. While Instagram and Pinterest inspire customers’ decor dreams, they pose their own challenges for shop owners. “A lot of what you see online simply doesn’t translate to the Indian market. We do import many items, but it’s still not realistic to find everything you see on the internet,” says Tinu. The shop also has metal ornaments, something that Tinu says, “can be passed down for generations”
Christmas decorations at Raave’s Evergreen in Egmore.
| Photo Credit:
VELANKANNI RAJ B
If you have been in Chennai long enough, chances are you are already familiar with Raave’s Evergreen store in Egmore. It is one of those legacy stores that started long before competition grew fierce, and before social media decided what your Christmas decor should look like. Established in 1997, the shop instantly evokes a sense of nostalgia — the kind of place you must have wandered into with your parents after school. Whether you are a college student shopping on a budget or someone looking to go all out, the store has something for everyone.
Christmas decorations at Raave’s Evergreen in Egmore.
| Photo Credit:
VELANKANNI RAJ B
Rows of Christmas trees, bells, and wreaths in classic green, rose gold and even fuchsia pink fill the space. From classic pine cones, red berry stems, and golden bells to snowflake ornaments, ice cream cone baubles and even a nutcracker quietly standing in the corner, the collection is endless. What stands out is a sea of red ornaments dominating the shelves this year. “Every year we bring in a new concept, and this time the theme is wine red,” says Selvaraj, the store owner. With Christmas just around the corner, he quickly returns to assisting customers — often guiding them on what they should look for.
Christmas decorations at Roy’s Wonderland in College Road in Egmore.
| Photo Credit:
VELANKANNI RAJ B
At Roy’s Wonderland, College Road, Nungambakam, this year’s star attraction is a pre-lit Christmas tree that changes colour at the tap of an app on the mobile phone — one button and the fairy lights shift seamlessly from red to blue and many more. The store’s shelves are lined with miniature Christmas villages, handcrafted wreaths in varied themes, and an impressive range of baubles available in both plastic and steel, each in different shapes, colours and finishes.
Christmas decorations at Roy’s Wonderland in College Road in Egmore.
| Photo Credit:
VELANKANNI RAJ B
“From classic trees to rare collectables, every piece is imported from nearly 10 festive corners of the world — the US, Germany, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Indonesia,” says Nivedha Roy, who joined the family-run business, founded in 1996, and now heads digital marketing. According to her, people start arriving in large numbers from Thanksgiving itself. Also a crowd favourite this year at Roy’s is a steam train circling a Christmas tree — a delight among the kids, says Nivedha.
From wholesale markets to boutique stores, the spirit of Christmas is already here in the city, with each store bringing its own flavour — some rooted in nostalgia and some inspired by global trends.
Published – December 03, 2025 04:41 pm IST