PARIS: The world celebrated Christmas under the shadow of war

PARIS: People donned Santa hats on beaches, ski slopes and streets around the world on Monday to celebrate Christmas, one of the world’s favorite holidays under threat due to Israel’s war on Hamas and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Hovering.

Red and white Santa costumes appeared on surfers from Australia to Florida, cyclists on the smog-filled streets of New Delhi and intrepid folks braving the cold Channel waters near Dover, Britain, for the holidays.

Pope Francis kicked off global celebrations with a solemn call for peace on Christmas Eve at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican.

“Tonight, our hearts are in Bethlehem,” the Pope said, “where the Prince of Peace has once again been rejected by the futile logic of war, by the conflict of arms that even today prevents him from finding a place in the world.” Who was to lead the mass prayer meeting organized on Christmas Day later on Monday.

The Biblical city in the occupied West Bank, where Christians believe Jesus Christ was born in a stable more than 2,000 years ago, effectively canceled annual Christmas celebrations that usually draw thousands Tourists come.

The city ditched its giant Christmas trees, marching bands and gaudy nativity scenes this year, settling for just a few festive lights.

In the center of the city, a huge Palestinian flag was raised with a banner declaring “The bells of Bethlehem are ringing for a ceasefire in Gaza”.

“There are so many people dying for this land,” said student Nicole Najjar, 18.

“It’s really hard to celebrate when our people are dying.”

Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, said: “We have come here to pray and not only to pray for a ceasefire, but a ceasefire is not enough, we have to stop these hostilities and turn the page because violence only breeds violence Is”.

In Syria, churches limited celebrations to prayers in a show of solidarity with Palestinians.

Hamas attacks on October 7 killed about 1,140 people in Israel, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on the latest official Israeli figures.

Palestinian militants also abducted about 250 people, 129 of whom Israel says are in Gaza.

Israel retaliated with sustained bombardments and ground offensives on Gaza, where 20,424 people have been killed, mostly women and children, according to the latest data from the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry.

new christmas day
Ukraine, which was invaded by Russia nearly two years ago, is celebrating Christmas on December 25 for the first time, and has abandoned the traditional Orthodox date of January 7, which is celebrated in Russia as a sign of contempt for Moscow .

“We believe that we should really celebrate Christmas with the whole world, far beyond Moscow. This is the new message for me now,” said Olena, a smiling parishioner in Odessa, whose son is a medic on the front lines.

The date change – moving away from the Julian calendar supported by the Orthodox Church – is part of steps taken since the invasion to remove traces of the Russian and Soviet empires.

The Ukrainian military said it shot down 28 of 31 drones launched by Russia at its neighbor on Christmas Day, but no casualties were reported.
surfing Santa
In countries affected by war, celebrants open gifts and wear red and white Santa hats to bring holiday cheer.

In Sydney, Australia, residents and tourists headed to the beach wearing red woolen hats despite the Southern Hemisphere heat.

In Florida, thousands of people flocked to Cocoa Beach for the annual “Surfing Santa” festival, which raises money for a charity that helps cancer patients travel to treatment and the local surf museum.

In Sri Lanka, President Ranil Wickremesinghe pardoned more than 1,000 convicts and released them from prisons across the country on Christmas, prison officials said.

prayers in turkish
In southern Turkey, much of which was devastated by February’s earthquake, believers prayed for a new beginning.

“It is important for us to celebrate the birth of Jesus. But this is a very sad Christmas,” said Wehbi Tadrasgil, 55, who lost his wife and two of his three children in the earthquake that killed at least 50,000 people. More than 5,000 in Türkiye and neighboring Syria.

“I hope their souls are here, I’m sure our prayers will reach them,” he said in front of the ruins of a church in Antakya.

Twenty kilometers (12 mi) down the coast in Samandag, a generator powered the lights on a tree in front of the Saint-Elias Church, which survived.