Iraqi Christians celebrated Christmas on Tuesday amid improved security, more than a year after the country declared victory over Islamic State militants.

In northeast Mosul, people attended a mass on Monday (December 24) at the Grand Immaculate Church, surrounded by blackened walls still tagged with Islamic State graffiti. Dozens of worshippers prayed and received communion, and then gathered around the traditional bonfire in the church’s courtyard.

The militants had ravaged Christian areas, looting and burning down homes and churches, stripping them of all valuable artefacts and smashing relics.

Faced with a choice to convert, pay a tax or die, many Christians in the Nineveh Plains, chose to flee. Most sought refuge in nearby towns and cities, but many sought permanent asylum abroad.

In Baghdad, at the St. George Chaldean Church, Christians turned out in force to attend a mass on Tuesday (December 25).

Key Shiite and Sunni clerics were also present at the mass.

It was from a Mosul mosque that Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi declared a “caliphate” in 2014, spanning northern Iraq and eastern Syria.

The militants seized vast swaths of territory in north and west of Iraq in June 2014. But U.S-backed Iraqi forces recaptured the areas and declared final victory against ISIS in 2017.

Iraq’s Christian population has shrunk from 1.5 million to about 400,000 since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003.

A concerned woman fearing “up to no good” carol singers was one of several unusual phone calls received by a police force during “Mad Friday”.

North Yorkshire Police shared details of the incident as part of a “tweetathon” documenting every call received between noon on Friday and 6am on Saturday, a period known to be one of the busiest of the year for forces across the country.

In one post, sent at 8.36pm on Friday, the force said they had been contacted by a woman in Harrogate about the carol singers, who are believed to have been from nearby Leeds.

The tweet said: “Caller from #Harrogate who is aware of Christmas carol singers in the area who she believes are from Leeds.

“Caller believes they are up to no good as they are not local to area – observations passed to local officers.”

The post triggered a series of comical responses from social media users, including one who suggested that the force should “build a wall and make Leeds pay for it”.

Another said that the caller might have been baffled by hearing the hymn Silent Night being sung “in a Leeds accent”.

One user joked that he had seen the singers in the famous Betty’s tea room earlier in the day, saying they had “asked for their crusts to be left on, and didn’t leave a tip”.

The force received hundreds of calls during the “tweetathon”, including one about a milkshake being thrown in a takeaway and another complaining about their neighbours’ “loud sex”.

The last Friday before Christmas, nicknamed “Mad Friday” and “Black Eye Friday”, is regarded as a hectic time for emergency services as it is a popular night to host festive parties.

Christians in Baghdad celebrated Christmas on Sunday in a heightened state of fear after deadly attacks on Christian-owned shops that sell alcohol.

Two shops next door to each other were riddled with bullet holes and spattered with blood after gunmen opened fire late on Friday in Baghdad’s Ghadeer neighbourhood. Police and medical sources said three people were killed and four wounded.

Local activists gave a higher death toll. Rayan al-Kildani, commander of Babiliyon Brigades, a group of Christian volunteers formed to fight Islamic State militants, said eight Christians and one member of the Yazidi sect had been killed in the attack.

“What a bloody gift they gave us for Christmas,” Joseph Warda, a Christian human rights activist, told Reuters.

Maria Polos, a retired schoolteacher in the district where the attack took place, said she and other Christians were afraid to celebrate the holiday in public.

“We fear getting killed like those in the alcohol shops,” she said. “We feel we’re aliens in this country.”

The sale of alcohol is generally shunned among Iraq’s Shi’ite and Sunni Muslims, and Christian-run shops that sell it were frequently targeted by militants from both Muslim sects during Iraq’s years of sectarian civil war.

This year, government forces have been pushing fighters from the militant group Islamic State out of parts of northern Iraq where it had banned the practice of any religion apart from Sunni Islam.

Areas once held by the group have seen their first Christmas services since 2013, and many Christians there have sounded more hopeful than they have for years about the fate of communities that date back to biblical times.

In Baghdad, the capital which is firmly controlled by the Iraqi government and security forces dominated by Iraq’s Shi’ite majority, Christians celebrate Christmas in churches decorated for the holiday. But many say they still live in fear, and do not feel the authorities protect them adequately.

Although the identities of the attackers who struck the liquor store were not known, the area is predominantly Shi’ite and Shi’ite groups have firm control of security. Warda, the human rights activist, said militants from any sect that attacked civilians in the name of religion were “no better than Islamic State”.

Vian Dakhil, a lawmaker from the ancient Yazidi sect, whose members were targeted in northern Iraq by Islamic State for what Western countries described as genocide, also said one Yazidi and eight Christians were killed in the Baghdad attacks.

“The criminals should be brought to justice as soon as possible so that their punishment serves as an example to those who dare kill civilians in the name of religion,” Dakhil said on her Twitter page.

Now, we know that this is not about hate crime work and anti-Muslim hatred, though this work also brings out the most beautiful and tender stories of compassion and care between people and which need to be highlighted when so much news is negative.

This was a Facebook post that we received from someone and it highlights and debunks the myth that Muslims are modern day Scrooge’s, wishing no-one a Merry Christmas. The text says it all and we wanted to highlight it in full.

“I just want to share this with folks: Muslims generally get a great deal of bad press especially when it comes to Christmas, many people believe that because of Muslims, we are now encouraged to say “Happy holidays” in place of the traditional “Happy Christmas/Merry Christmas.”

This evening and rushing to do my last minute shopping on this Christmas Eve, as I entered the supermarket, I noticed a Muslim lady rushing with her shopping trolley to her car, I smiled and said “Hurry out of the cold” To which she replied with a huge smile “Merry Christmas” and I thought…I love that this lady just said that to me, it kind of made me think how integrated we in the UK generally are.

Then later, I entered my local corner shop to pick up some last minute table snacks, I noticed he had “Christmas hats” and wanted to purchase one which said “Santa`s little helper” but I was all spent up and this little shop doesn’t have a card machine. I paid for the items and as I was leaving, this local shop keeper gave me the hat and wished me a “Happy Christmas” now it isn’t as though I use his shop often because he doesn’t take debit card payments but because of his small act of kindness, he now has a regular customer.

It is with little exchanges such as these, we come a long way in correcting the skewed vision of how Muslims are portrayed as wanting to change everything and steal our Christmas from us, it just isn’t true.”

The post Facebook Post by non-Muslim Debunks the ‘Muslims Don’t Want to Wish a Merry Christmas’ appeared first on TELL MAMA.

Netherlands

The festivities begin with the arrival of Sinterklaas (Saint Nicholas) on a boat from Spain. History alludes to a Catholic priest in fourth-century Myra – in modern Turkey. Under protestant rule, celebrations of Sinterklaas moved from the public into the private sphere.

Jan Schenkman’s 1850 novel ‘Saint Nicholas and his Servant‘ popularised many modern Sinterklaas traditions. Schenkman’s writings reflected the culture – Sinterklaas interrogated children about their behaviour and religious knowledge. Rewards came in the shape of gifts and food. Naughty children were sometimes carried away by the servant in a large sack.

One of the most controversial legacies involves Zwarte Piet or ‘Black Pete’ – a character who accompanies Sinterklass. White people put on blackface makeup, with exaggerated lips, curly wigs and costumes. The United Nations has called on the Netherlands to ditch Black Pete due to its racist and negative stereotyping. In recent years, the anti-racist response to Black Pete has received more mainstream attention.

Jerusalem

Christians account for less than 2 per cent of the population in Jerusalem. For many in the city, Christmas is just another day in the city. Christmas Day falls on the Sabbath so individuals will be off regardless.

In some parts of Jerusalem, you will find Christmas trees on display. At the New Gate to the Christian Quarter of the Old City they lit up a Christmas tree opposite Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center.

The far-right Lehava demonstrated at the front of Jerusalem’s YMCA building to protest an event inside in which they claimed Jewish children were decorating Christmas trees.

On December 21, Santa Claus helped residents select Christmas trees distributed by city hall.

When it comes to Christmas Day, individuals, of all faiths can enjoy services in multiple languages. From Jerusalem, pilgrims make the short walk to Bethlehem in the Occupied West Bank.

Bethlehem

The violence that grips Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories harmed Bethlehem’s tourism trade. Hotel bookings have not hit the 40 or 50 per cent mark. In 2014, hotels had sold out. Decorations will not extend to entire downtown district. Authorities will only decorate Manger Square and two nearby streets.

Bethlehem Mayor Vera Baboun has also accused Israel of taking more land to complete the separation wall at Bethlehem’s perimeter. Patriarch Emeritus Michael Sabbah, who was the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem between 1987 and 2008, wrote a critical article about the situation in Bethlehem for Haaretz.

Some Palestinians decorated an olive tree with tear gas canisters and grenades near the Church of Nativity.

Israeli authorities issued 600 travel visas for Christians in the Gaza strip. Yet there are age restrictions so younger families miss out. There is an estimated 3,000 (or more) Christians in this area and around 300 or so Catholics, compared to about 1.4 million Muslims that live in the Gaza strip.

For those able to attend – there’s a carnival atmosphere at central Manger Square. Vendors sell sweets, watches, and balloons. Scout troops play bagpipes and drums.

Iceland

In Iceland, a historic tradition involves the giving of books. This tradition has its own name ‘Jólabókaflóð’ or the ‘Christmas Book Flood’.

Individuals exchange gifts on Christmas Eve and spend the evening reading books.

According to Hildur Knútsdóttir, the tradition dates back to World War II. War affected Iceland’s ability to import goods outside of paper. So the book became a viable gift.

For gifts, relatives receive hardcover editions as individuals tend to buy paperbacks for themselves. So bookstores ensure they are well stocked with hardcover books before December.

Iceland also prints more books per capita than any other nation.

Mexico

In the southwestern city of Oaxaca, individuals partake in a number of traditions. One tradition concerns the procession that re-enacts Mary and Joseph’s search for shelter. They are received at a pre-arranged where the godparents (padrionos) of that posada welcome the pilgrims with songs and blessings.

The Noche de Rábanos (Night of the Radishes) begins on December 23. Farmers arrive and make elaborate sculptures of kings and nativity scenes from the vegetables. Winners of this competition are greeted with fireworks.

On Christmas Eve, residents will gather statues of Jesus Christ from godmothers, who then donate them to local parishes. Beyond celebrations, they return to celebrate the Misa de Gallo (Mass of the Rooster) – the first celebration meal before Christmas.

The tradition of plate smashing continues until December 31.

The post How is Christmas celebrated in other parts of the world? appeared first on Religious Reader.

Pope Francis lit the Christmas tree and nativity scene in Assisi. From a distance in the Vatican, he performed the ceremony online on December 7.

In attendance at the lower piazza of the Basilica San Francesco were 31 refugees from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Nigeria and Syria. The other invited guest included the Naval officer who assisted in their rescue. All stood alongside local residents as the Christmas tree lit up.

#Assisi,accensione delle luci del presepe: “Anche quella volta siamo arrivati in tempo per salvare una vita in mare” pic.twitter.com/uF4abIu5zc

— Marina Militare (@ItalianNavy) December 6, 2015

Papa Francesco accende le luci del presepe di #Assisi. Comandante nave #MarinaMilitare porterà la sua testimonianza pic.twitter.com/7hoMEVj0H2

— Marina Militare (@ItalianNavy) December 6, 2015

At the foot of the tree stands a nativity scene crafted into the boat used by those who arrived at the Italian island of Lampedusa from Tunisia in 2014.

The Italian State Railway and Italian Navy also handed out toys to families in need.

Staff at the Basilica, the Conventual Franciscan Friars, dedicated the tree and “this Christmas to immigrants“.

In a translated address, according to Vatican Radio, Francis thanked the Coast Guard. He said: “I would like to thank the [members of the] Coast Guard: the good men and women. I thank you, for you were the instrument of hope that brings us Jesus.”

And in reference all refugees, Pope Francis said: “I say a word, that of the prophet: Raise your head, the Lord is near. And with him is strength, salvation, hope. The heart, perhaps, [is] sorrowful, but the head [is] high in the hope of the Lord.”

This follows a statement he made back in October that: “At the heart of the Gospel of mercy, the encounter and acceptance by others are intertwined with the encounter and acceptance of God himself”.

The post Pope Francis lights nativity scene in support of refugees appeared first on Religious Reader.