Christmas is one of the most beloved holidays for Arab people. However, in different countries, it is celebrated on a different date. Therefore, the customs and traditions may also vary depending on the community’s beliefs. In the next paragraphs, I will list some of the most common Christmas traditions that take place during the winter months.

Common Christmas Traditions for Arab People

Christmas is a time of reunion, love, and endless happiness. As aforesaid, this is perhaps the most adored holiday for Arabs. Thousands of people gather together in Bethlehem to celebrate the birth of Jesus. By tradition, celebrators will go to Manger Square, which is the city square of Bethlehem, Palestine. The Jerusalem Patriarch walks in an aisle surrounded by all those people. But what does Christmas look like in the homes of Arab people from different countries? The following paragraphs are dedicated to a few popular traditions in the Arab world that occur every year. Here are the main topics I will cover:

• Decoration
• Traditional Meals
• Customs
• Songs

Traditional Christmas Decoration

I believe most of you are familiar with the traditional Christmas decoration that includes lights, Christmas trees, toys, and festoons. Christian Arabs in Lebanon take all these things quite seriously. Once the end of November comes, the streets and people’s houses transform completely. You will witness numerous large trees decorated with various toys and illuminated with colorful Christmas lights.

During the evenings, the main squares get filled with people who left their homes to enjoy a nice walk in the holiday atmosphere. Stores also join the celebration by adding tons of Christmas souvenirs and cards to their assortment. It is an interesting fact that in the last couple of years, small businesses in many countries are thriving during these beloved holidays. Needless to say, shopping centers, bakeries, and restaurants are also decorated with lights suitable for the respective festival.

Traditional Christmas Meals

In some countries, families gather together during lunch, while in others, according to the tradition, the traditional Christmas meals should be served at dinner. Again, the traditional dishes vary depending on the country. For instance, in Palestine, people eat qedreh. This is a delicious meal that should be served hot, and it consists of rice, chickpeas, and lamb. It is usually served with yogurt. Many times, qedreh is accompanied by another traditional dish known as mihshe malfouf. That is basically a cabbage roll filled with rice and meat.

On the other hand, in Lebanon people are served turkey stuffed with rice and nuts. On the table, there are also plates overflowing with different appetizers, such as sautéed potatoes, sausages, and meat-filled pastry. In the end, guests enjoy delicious desserts, such as shaabiyat, which is almost the same as baklava. By tradition, people eat these traditional dishes at lunch rather than dinner.

Syrians also have several intriguing traditional dishes that are cooked every Christmas. Undeniably, each one of them tastes like heaven to them, because a large percentage of the population goes on a strict fast before Christmas. At lunch, families gather together and enjoy tasty meals, such as mahashi and lahm bi ajin. The latter refers to a pizza-like dish that is made with baked dough and minced meat. Mahashi, on the other hand, is a traditional Syrian meal that consists of eggplants with various fillings.

Christmas Customs

Arabian Christmas is associated with a number of interesting customs. A suitable example would be the present-giving tradition in Syria. It is believed that children will be given gifts by the smallest camel because it has walked thousands of miles, collapsed, but was resurrected by Jesus Christ. By tradition, kids would leave food in front of their homes for the camel in question a night before Christmas day. When the holiday occurs, people gather together and sing traditional hymns. Then, a priest walks by everyone in the crowd and touches their hand so that everyone is blessed with health and peace for the following year.

Palestine is another country that organizes special events every Christmas. The first and most impressive moment associated with the holiday is the lighting of the Christmas tree, which always attracts thousands of witnesses. What’s more, during December there are numerous street performances people can enjoy without paying a single shekel.

Iraqi people also have an interesting Christmas tradition. On the day of the holiday, families with their children gather together and listen to the story of Nativity that is being read by the kids. The next step of the custom is for the adults to light thorns and witness their burning while singing a psalm. It is believed that once the thorns become ashes, people should jump in the remains three times, after which they have to wish for something in the upcoming year.