The Christmas Spirit Survives in Middle East High Conflict Zones

This holiday season the Middle East is fraught with conflict; civil wars in Syria and Yemen, a refugee crisis and terror groups plaguing innocent civilians. Amongst the negative pressure, hope is peaking through with beautiful displays of Christmas trees across the Middle East. One cannot help but to feel optimistic when looking at a nativity scene- remember, the Virgin Mary gave birth to Jesus in the region.

Elan lists the region’s most heartwarming displays of Christmas throughout the Middle East.

Baghdad, Iraq

This year Baghdad is laying claim to the tallest Christmas tree in the Middle East. Standing at 25 meters tall in al-Zawraa Amusement Park, visitors got the chance to see the tree being assembled.

Photo Credit: Twitter @IraqLiveUpdate

Damascus, Syria

A Christmas tree lighting ceremony was held last weekend at the Dama Rose Hotel in Damascus. The Tourism Minister, Bishr Yazigi said the lighting of the tree is a “message of peace for all Syrians of all denominations…”

Photo Credit: Sana.sy

Byblos, Lebanon

Byblos’ striking, abstract version of a Christmas tree features a representation of a sail on it’s left side, reminding us of a historical time when the Byblos port was the single most important shipping destination in the world. The right side of the tree represents a perfectly shaped, modernized mosaic, with rough edges and hard borders to show the unity and integration of the different types of people in Byblos.

Huffington Post has named this tree as one of the most extravagant and creative Christmas tree of the year.

Bethlehem, West Bank

Christian Palestinians lit their Christmas tree this year in Manger Square outside The Church of the Nativity- in the West Bank town of Bethlehem. The Church of the Nativity sits atop a holy site known as The Grotto, that is associated with the cave in which the birth of Jesus of Nazareth is said to have occurred.

Christmas Eve is typically a major event for the biblical town, but Mayor of Bethlehem Vera Baboun said the city would only decorate Manger Square this year in light of weeks of Israeli-Palestinian violence.

Erbil, Iraq

Thousands of refugees forced to abandon their homes because of the threat of ISIS are celebrating their Christmas in a refugee camp in Erbil, Iraq this year. They are safe from immediate danger in this camp built around the Mazar Mar Eillia Catholic Church in Ankawa. Although many are living in make shift tents, and temperatures are dropping, the Christmas spirit can still be found in the camp, as evidenced by a decorated tree and nativity scene.