Christmas in the Arab world: Resilience in the face of crises
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Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, Palestine and Egypt have been through a lot - families wipe their tears and move to celebrate the birth of Christ in 2021.
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Iraqis in Nineveh rejoice for Christmas celebrations, December 24, 2021.
With crippling economic crises and worsening pandemic conditions as Omicron infiltrates society, billions of people taste the bittersweet effect of adversity along with the Christmas celebrations and family functions.
Jesus was a Palestinian
In Beit Lahm in the occupied West Bank, hotel owners express disappointment after anticipating an influx of tourists and visitors who never showed up.
At 9 AM, scouts began their traditional marches in Al-Quds, and the sounds of drums and psalms filled the air with joy in the Church of Nativity, where Jesus was born according to Christian beliefs.
The streets of Beit Lahm, along with its neighborhoods and alleys, especially in the vicinities where the Church of Nativiy is, were decorated with Christmas ornaments for the second year in a row, where great Christmas lighting hung over the Christmas tree.
Al Mayadeen's reporter said that "Palestinians performed prayers Friday near the Church of Nativity in Beit Lahm," while the director of Al Mayadeen's office in occupied Palestine confirmed that the occupation did not allow all Gaza's Christians to participate in the celebration in Beit Lahm.
Similar to what happened in 2020, the midnight mass this year will be restricted to a small circle of worshippers, who can attend it exclusively by invitation. The liturgy will be chaired by Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Apostolic Administrator of the Latin Patriarchate of Al-Quds.
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Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus son of Mary, constricted by oppressive Israeli occupation.
A Palestinian citizen from Bethlehem told Al Mayadeen that "These are difficult days now, and we wish the Arab people, and the Palestinian people in particular, better days, and that it will be a good year despite all the problems, challenges, vices, occupation, and Coronavirus."
He added, "At this time of the year, the Israeli occupation forces are administratively detaining our young men. They were taking Palestinians and imprisoning them, and depriving the people of Palestine of joy. In the same period, Israeli violence escalated in Gaza, Sheikh Jarrah and Silwan neighborhoods, and throughout Palestine, not to mention the events and attacks continuing throughout the occupied West Bank."
As for Fouad Ammar, a Palestinian from Gaza, he told Al Mayadeen, "Christmas in Palestine is different from Christmas anywhere else in the world. The Palestinians have been suffering from an Israeli siege since 2007."
Christmas in Egypt via TV
Given the circumstances concerning the outbreak of the Coronavirus, Egypt decided to limit Christmas celebrations this year to television.
A statement by the church said that it congratulates everyone on the New Year and wishes a glorious Christmas to all.
The church explained that "The current conditions and the outbreak of the coronavirus impose multiple restrictions on us, which you all know, and the media center apologizes for not allowing any media coverage of any of the church's events related to the feast."
Lebanon: The economic crisis hinders the celebration of Christmas
As difficult economic conditions ravage Lebanon while the dollar rises sky-high against the lira, Christmas celebrations become an act of resilience.
Due to the virus outbreak, health prevention measures limit the ability of the Lebanese to celebrate holidays. Around 74% of the Lebanese population is currently living in poverty while non-governmental organizations have been scrambling to provide gifts, food and aid to the population for free.
The Beirut Blast, which occurred on August 4, 2020, leaving many homes devastated, only exacerbated the economic crisis that the Lebanese have been experiencing since the summer of 2019. The middle class was eroded by the experience, which witnessed a 700% rise in the prices of basic consumer items.
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A "Despite it all" sign hangs in Beirut's downtown amid Christmas celebrations despite a ravaging economic crisis.
Basma Al Hashem, a Lebanese citizen, told Al Mayadeen, that "Christmas this year comes in light of the lack of basic necessities for the Lebanese," explaining that "the Lebanese are no longer able to purchase their basic necessities due to the crazy price rise, in addition to the psychological state we are living in."
George Boutros spoke to Al Mayadeen about the telecommunications and internet crisis in Lebanon, explaining that his children work abroad, but the lack of internet and the weakness of the communications network impede his communication with his children and spending Christmas with them, even over the phone.
Syria and Iraq
The anniversary of the four years of ISIS' defeat in Iraq and Syria coincided with the birth of Jesus Christ.
The Christians of Nineveh governorate set up a large Christmas tree, placed in the town's center of Bakhdida located in the Hamdaniya district, marking the start of the celebrations despite economic and social difficulties caused by ISIS.
The Christmas tree was 14 meters high, 5 meters in diameters, and was tinted white and gold.
A large number of Christians reside in Nineveh Governorate, which was liberated from ISIS in 2016.
As for Syria, the country is experiencing modest celebrations due to poverty and price hikes caused by US sanctions.
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Syrians in north Aleppo celebrate Christmas at an orthodox church.
Regarding the Christmas atmosphere in Syria, Afra Moussa told Al Mayadeen that "the Syrians are trying to return to the lives they had before the war, in which they enjoyed calm and tranquility."
She added, "The war left its traces in our hearts. We have not forgotten the tragedy that we lived and we will not forget. But the Syrian people love life, and we try to live joy as much as possible."
