In Pictures: See how the Middle East celebrates Christmas
There might not be any snow, but that doesn't stop the Christians of the Middle East from celebrating in their own way.
By SHOSHANA KRANISHUpdated: DECEMBER 24, 2017 18:51Lebanese wish for stability as they gear up for holiday season, December 24, 2017 (Video credit: Reuters)
Across the Middle East, Christian communities are gearing up for Christmas. Here's a look at how some of the region's ancient communities celebrate the holiday.In Lebanon, Prime Minister Sa'ad Hariri held a tree-decorating event for Lebanese orphans.Prime Minister Saad Hariri helps a Lebanse orphan put an ornament on a Chrismtas tree (credit: Mohamad Azakir/ Reuters)In Nazareth, Israeli Arabs made a replica of the nativity scene.Israeli Arabs recreate the Nativity scene in Nazareth, December 2017 (Credit: Baz Ratner/ Reuters)In the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Palestinians took part in large parades near the Church of the Nativity.A Palestinian marching band participates in Christmas festivites in Bethlehem (credit: Ammar Awad/ Reuters)Iraqi children celebrated Christmas in the capital of Baghdad. Northern Iraqi Christians were able to celebrate Christmas openly for the first time in 4 years in Mosul, after the city was liberated from the Islamic State.Iraqi children celebrate Christmas at the Church of the Sacred Heart in Baghdad (Credit: Thaier Al-Sudani/ Reuters)And in Jerusalem, Santa reined supreme - on a camel, of course!
Issa Kassissieh rides a camel in a Santa costume during the annual Christmas tree distribution in the Old City of Jerusalem (credit: Ammar Awad/ Reuters)Police units escort representatives from the Christian community that made their way from the old city of Jerusalem toward the Bethlehem crossing Sunday.
