It is 12 days to Christmas and the jolly season is already being experienced on the south coast of Upolu as this is also the time to decorate, clean up and make their gardens look spectacular. 

From Lalomanu to Vailoa to Tiavea, and Saleapaga, people are weeding their gardens or working outside the house, some even starting early morning.. 

 Old ladies, youth, children, mothers and fathers are all doing something to spruce up the area. 

Last Saturday, a few men were seen spraying weed killer to shun the grass near their homes. Others were using the weed eaters. A youth was helping his grandmother who was sitting by the side of the road, weeding grass. 

Along the beaches, employees of operators were seen weeding the grass early morning, and evenings. They were also using machetes and scissors to prune the trees. 

"It is part of our end of year inspections, where the women's committees go to each household to inspect on particular items decided on," said Su'e Lauoletolo of Saleaumua and Lalomanu.

"We are inspected for the lands, clean surroundings, houses, lavatories and everything we use as a family." 

Tivite, who runs a taxi service in the south coast told Samoa Observer that he could not cater for some of his guests because he had to help his wife with their gardening for the inspection. 

An employee of the beach, Iva Simi, told Samoa Observer that for the last two weeks his family has been collecting sand from their land to smoothen their front yard, for the inspection. 

"It is a great time of the year. Everyone is working together to beautify their homes for the arrival of Jesus, and the celebration of Christmas," he said.

A shop owner in Ulutogia who goes by the name of Ruta told Samoa Observer that she was working on cleaning her land and gardens with her daughters all week. 

"We have been going to weed the grass and clean the gardens and our home inland, because of the inspections coming up," she said. 

"We run the shop in the evenings or when it is too hot to do any work in the sun."