This year several Latter-day Saints and missionaries joined other Christians and friends in the fun of painting coconuts for the Malesso’ Coconut Christmas Tree, doing their part to Light the World and find joy during the 2024 holiday season.
“This is a fun way to celebrate the birth of the Savior,” said Sister Kathryn McFarlane, a military support missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The 20-foot tall Malesso’ Christmas Tree has become one of the unique traditions that has developed in recent years on Guam’s picturesque southern shore.
The coconut Christmas tree was the brainchild of Malesso’s Abby and Steve Cruz. The first coconut Christmas tree was created in 2019 as a Cruz family effort. Since then, the larger Guam community has been invited to participate in creating uniquely decorated coconuts, and the tree has become a must-see stop for tourists exploring the southern shores of Guam.
"We wanted to do something that involved the community and I just one day thought, you know, we live in the southern part of the island, and I was looking for something natural where we could showcase our village...and I saw a lot of coconuts. And so I thought why don't we do a Christmas tree made out of coconuts," explained Abby Cruz.
Hopefully the tradition of the Cruz family can continue through the years providing a place where families and the community can come together to celebrate Christmas by creating something beautiful to brighten up the community.
The Coconut Christmas tree will remain standing throughout the new year until freshly painted coconuts replace the old ones just in time for the 2025 Christmas season.