Christmas Around the World: Iraq

Christmas is celebrated in many ways all around the world. In Iraq, Christians celebrating Christmas are a minority. Due to instability and the present war, many are afraid to attend traditional services for fear that their church will be targeted for attack. Ideally, Iraqi Christians have a unique way of celebrating Christmas, and both Christians and non-Christians often share in the festivities. The Iraqi people form close friendships and tight bonds, and many Iraqi citizens do not view religious differences as an obstacle to friendship. As such, the varied cultures and traditions are sometimes celebrated and shared amongst friends, regardless of religion.

Christmas in Iraq is traditionally celebrated in a much different manner than Christmas in North American countries. Christian Iraqis and their children read the story of the birth of Christ out of an Arabic Bible in the courtyard of their home on Christmas Eve. Family members hold candles while the story is read. Afterwards, a bonfire is made of dried thorns in a corner of the courtyard, in hopes that the thorns will burn to ashes. This is believed to signify good luck and prosperity in the coming year for the family. Psalms are sung while the fire burns, and then the family jumps over the ashes three times, and makes a wish.

On Christmas day, the church builds a larger bonfire, and the congregation chants a hymn as the fire burns. The church bishop leads church officials in a procession as a representation of the baby Jesus is carried on a scarlet cushion. The service on Christmas is long. The. At the end of the service, the bishop blesses the people and touches a member of the congregation. That member then passes the touch on to another, until each member of the congregation have received what is known as "The Touch of Peace".

If your family is up for another Christmas tradition, consider the reading of the Christmas story from the Bible during a family bonfire. Perhaps to give the tradition your own twist, you could allow each child to write down a wish and drop it into the fire. My wish for this year would be that the soldiers in Iraq, their families back home, and all Iraqi citizens feel peace and Christmas joy, despite all of the ugliness they are dealing with this Christmas.