DAMASCUS, Syria — This Christmas morning in Syria’s capital, Christians dressed in their finest clothes, attended church and participated in the annual parade through the ancient part of the city.

A Christmas tree in the courtyard of the YMCA in Gaza City in December 2021. After Hamas took over Gaza, Christians began observing holidays in the privacy of their homes and churches.

Protests erupted in Christian neighborhoods of the Syrian capital Damascus after a Christmas tree was set on fire in another town by unidentified men on Monday evening.

Everyone assumes that early Church authorities chose December 25th for Christmas to coincide with the already popular Roman ...

Any other year, Christmas festivities would be in full swing in the town of Jesus’ birth. The center of that party is Manger Square, the plaza outside the Church of the Nativity.

People walk in Manger Square, adjacent to the Church of the Nativity, traditionally believed to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023.

Yet not everyone embraced the spirit of Christmas. Puritans, or Protestants who wanted to purify the Church of England, believed Christmas highlighted everything wrong with the church.

The Rev. Dave Urban of St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church in Allison Park said Orthodox Christians prepare for Christmas 40 days ahead of time with a Nativity fast.

Arraf's views are felt by many Palestinian American Christians in Michigan who are scaling back on Christmas celebrations and donating money to help Palestinians instead of buying gifts.

Nation & World World Christians in Gaza, huddled in churches, celebrate Christmas: ‘We’re still here’ Dec. 24, 2024 at 1:04 pm Updated Dec. 24, 2024 at 2:04 pm By Aaron Boxerman ...

In Bethlehem, the Rev. Munther Isaac, pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church, said tears flow during Sunday services. Many are anxious; some have packed up and left.