Santa Claus comes to the HO HO HOly city of Jerusalem
A cheerful Santa Claus walks back and forth on the Old City's walls, calling on Christian residents to come pick out a tree.
By REUTERSUpdated: DECEMBER 21, 2015 14:03Santa Claus comes to the HO HO HOly city of Jerusalem
Christmas bells were ringing from Jerusalem's Old City walls on Monday as residents came to collect trees being handed out free of charge by the municipality.A cheerful Santa Claus walked back and forth on the Old City's walls, calling on Christian residents to come pick out a tree."I give this joy for the kids of Jerusalem and for the kids of all around the world and I wish peace, love and happiness for all the world," Issa Kasasiya, dressed as Santa said while ringing his bell.Thomas, another resident of Jerusalem, wished for world peace as he came to pick out a Christmas tree from the pile stacked up at the Jaffa gate entrance to the walled city."This tree is like a symbol of life because it is always green, it continues the joy that peace will come for the world and for every people," he said.Jerusalem, which Christians believe to be the site of Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection, is a tourist attraction for tens of thousands of pilgrims each year.But during the holiday season it is second to the West Bank city of Bethlehem, who prides itself with being the birth town of Christ.On the morning of Christmas Eve (December 24), the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Fuad Twal, will leave Jerusalem as head of a festive motorcade towards Bethlehem, where he will lead Christmas eve mass in the Church of Nativity.