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A woman displays gifts in her store ahead of Christmas at a mall, amid fears over rising numbers of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in Amman, Jordan. REUTERS

People doing last minute Christmas shopping at Mall of the Emirates in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

Last minute X-mas decorations and shopping before the 25th of December arrives at Oasis Mall. Antonie Robertson/The National

A Christmas tree is seen on the ornamented and lightened streets of the mostly Christian-populated Bab Touma neighborhood in the old city of Damascus, Syria. EPA

The Christmas tree in front of the Church of the Nativity, in the Palestinian holy city of Bethlehem in the West Bank. AFP

A Palestinian carpenter carves religious statues and figurines from olive wood at a shop near the Church of the Nativity, in the West Bank city of Bethlehem. AFP

A Palestinian waiter dressed as Santa Claus welcomes visitors at the entrance of a restaurant on the beach in Gaza City. AP

People shop in the Christian-populated Al-Qassaa neighborhood in Damascus, Syria. The area has been decorated as part of celebrations of Christmas and New Year. EPA

People walk in the Christian-populated Al-Qassaa neighborhood in Damascus, Syria. The area has been decorated as part of celebrations of Christmas and New Year. EPA

Egyptian worker Mosaad Masoud makes glass items for decorating Christmas trees at a glass workshop in Al Qalyubia Governorate, north of Cairo, Egypt. Most Egyptian Christians belong to the Coptic Orthodox Church and they have some very unique traditions for Christmas, which they celebrate on 07 January according to the Julian calendar. EPA

A man wearing a protective face mask rides a motorbike with a dog dressed up as Santa Claus, during a parade ahead of Christmas in downtown Beirut, Lebanon. Reuters

A Lebanese man wearing a Santa Claus outfit, entertains children at a Christmas market set up on Martyr's square, the epicentre of anti-government protests, in the capital Beirut's downtown district. AFP

Iraqis check Christmas' decorations for sale at Al Rasheed Street in the capital Baghdad. AFP

A Palestinian man dressed in a Santa Claus costume spreads happiness among the camp children amid the ongoing coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, in Al Shatea refugee camp in Gaza City. EPA

A Palestinian woman tries a Christmas-themed mask in Gaza City. AFP

A Palestinian waiter dressed a Santa Clause stands next to a Christmas tree in a restaurant next to the beach in Gaza City. EPA

A Palestinian waiter dressed as Santa Claus holds a child for a photograph in a restaurant on the beach in Gaza City. AP

Palestinian cafeteria employees dressed as Santa Claus decorate a Christmas Tree in Gaza City. AFP

A woman hangs glass Christmas tree ornaments on display at a glass-blowing workshop in the old city of the Palestinian city of Hebron in the occupied West Bank on December 8, 2020. AFP

A street vendor selling Santa Claus wrapped chocolate calls for customers at a market in the Old City of Jerusalem. AFP

Bethlehem lit up its Christmas tree evening but without the usual crowds, as novel coronavirus restrictions put a damper on the start of Christmas festivities in the holy city. AFP

epa08864860 Palestinians officials and representative of the Church attending the ceremony of lighting the Christmas tree in Bethlehem, West Bank, 05 December 2020, only a limited number of people were allowed to attend the ceremony due to the restrictions imposed by Palestinian Authorities of 14 days of a night lockdown in the Palestinian territories. EPA/ABED AL HASHLAMOUN

This picture taken on December 5, 2020 shows a fireworks display during the lighting of the Christmas tree in the biblical city of Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank, closed to the public due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. / AFP / EMMANUEL DUNAND

An inflatable Santa Claus is displayed outside a shop in Baghdad's Tahrir Square. AFP

A Lebanese child dressed in a Santa Claus outfit holds a balloon at a Christmas market set up on Martyr's square, the epicentre of anti-government protests, in the capital Beirut's downtown district. AFP

People wearing protective face masks walk near a dog dressed up as Santa Claus on a kids' bike, during a parade ahead of Christmas in downtown Beirut, Lebanon. REUTERS

A woman dressed as Santa Claus stands on a decorated vehicle, during a parade ahead of Christmas in downtown Beirut, Lebanon. REUTERS

Lebanese people gather next to a giant Christmas tree which has been officially lit up at the Ashrafieh area in Beirut, Lebanon. The celebration comes amid the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic and the country's severe economic crisis, which comes four months after the blast at Beirut port. EPA

Workers restore the windows of a house as Lebanese youths dressed as Santa Clause, polar bears and Santa's helpers parade ahead of Christmas along Gouraud street in the capital Beirut's Gemmayzeh neighbourhood, one of the hardest hit by a massive explosion that shook the city on August 4, causing extensive damage to buildings and leaving scores of people dead or injured. AFP

Lebanese people gather next to a giant Christmas tree which has been officially lit up at the Ashrafieh area in Beirut, Lebanon. The celebration comes amid the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic and the country's severe economic crisis, which comes four months after the blast at Beirut port. EPA

Lebanese people gather next to a giant Christmas tree which has been officially lit up at the Ashrafieh area in Beirut, Lebanon. The celebration comes amid the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic and the country's severe economic crisis, which comes four months after the blast at Beirut port. EPA

A Muslim woman attends the Christmas tree lighting ceremony in Beirut's Gemmayzeh neighbourhood. International donors Friday laid out a $2.5-billion response plan to the devastating port blast in Beirut in August, urging reforms in the crisis-hit country. The European Union, United Nations and World Bank published the plan four months after the country's worst peacetime disaster on August 4 that killed more than 200 people, wounded thousands and ravaged a huge part of Beirut. AFP

Children perform during the Christmas Tree lighting ceremony in Beirut's Gemmayzeh neighbourhood. International donors Friday laid out a $2.5-billion response plan to the devastating port blast in Beirut in August, urging reforms in the crisis-hit country. The European Union, United Nations and World Bank published the plan four months after the country's worst peacetime disaster on August 4 that killed more than 200 people, wounded thousands and ravaged a huge part of Beirut. AFP

Syrians shop at a charity bazaar held at the Patriarchate of Antioch and All The East in Damascus, Syria. The bazaar is held under the title 'Talk, We Are With You' as part of the worldwide 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, which is an annual international campaign that kicked off on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and runs until 10 December. EPA

General view of Christmas decorations at a mall in Amman, Jordan. REUTERS

People buy gifts ahead of Christmas in the city of Fuhais near Amman Jordan. REUTERS

A woman displays gifts in her store ahead of Christmas at a mall, amid fears over rising numbers of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in Amman, Jordan. REUTERS

People doing last minute Christmas shopping at Mall of the Emirates in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

Last minute X-mas decorations and shopping before the 25th of December arrives at Oasis Mall. Antonie Robertson/The National

A Christmas tree is seen on the ornamented and lightened streets of the mostly Christian-populated Bab Touma neighborhood in the old city of Damascus, Syria. EPA

The Christmas tree in front of the Church of the Nativity, in the Palestinian holy city of Bethlehem in the West Bank. AFP

A Palestinian carpenter carves religious statues and figurines from olive wood at a shop near the Church of the Nativity, in the West Bank city of Bethlehem. AFP

A Palestinian waiter dressed as Santa Claus welcomes visitors at the entrance of a restaurant on the beach in Gaza City. AP

People shop in the Christian-populated Al-Qassaa neighborhood in Damascus, Syria. The area has been decorated as part of celebrations of Christmas and New Year. EPA

People walk in the Christian-populated Al-Qassaa neighborhood in Damascus, Syria. The area has been decorated as part of celebrations of Christmas and New Year. EPA

Egyptian worker Mosaad Masoud makes glass items for decorating Christmas trees at a glass workshop in Al Qalyubia Governorate, north of Cairo, Egypt. Most Egyptian Christians belong to the Coptic Orthodox Church and they have some very unique traditions for Christmas, which they celebrate on 07 January according to the Julian calendar. EPA

A man wearing a protective face mask rides a motorbike with a dog dressed up as Santa Claus, during a parade ahead of Christmas in downtown Beirut, Lebanon. Reuters

A Lebanese man wearing a Santa Claus outfit, entertains children at a Christmas market set up on Martyr's square, the epicentre of anti-government protests, in the capital Beirut's downtown district. AFP

Iraqis check Christmas' decorations for sale at Al Rasheed Street in the capital Baghdad. AFP

A Palestinian man dressed in a Santa Claus costume spreads happiness among the camp children amid the ongoing coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, in Al Shatea refugee camp in Gaza City. EPA

A Palestinian woman tries a Christmas-themed mask in Gaza City. AFP

A Palestinian waiter dressed a Santa Clause stands next to a Christmas tree in a restaurant next to the beach in Gaza City. EPA

A Palestinian waiter dressed as Santa Claus holds a child for a photograph in a restaurant on the beach in Gaza City. AP

Palestinian cafeteria employees dressed as Santa Claus decorate a Christmas Tree in Gaza City. AFP

A woman hangs glass Christmas tree ornaments on display at a glass-blowing workshop in the old city of the Palestinian city of Hebron in the occupied West Bank on December 8, 2020. AFP

A street vendor selling Santa Claus wrapped chocolate calls for customers at a market in the Old City of Jerusalem. AFP

Bethlehem lit up its Christmas tree evening but without the usual crowds, as novel coronavirus restrictions put a damper on the start of Christmas festivities in the holy city. AFP

epa08864860 Palestinians officials and representative of the Church attending the ceremony of lighting the Christmas tree in Bethlehem, West Bank, 05 December 2020, only a limited number of people were allowed to attend the ceremony due to the restrictions imposed by Palestinian Authorities of 14 days of a night lockdown in the Palestinian territories. EPA/ABED AL HASHLAMOUN

This picture taken on December 5, 2020 shows a fireworks display during the lighting of the Christmas tree in the biblical city of Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank, closed to the public due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. / AFP / EMMANUEL DUNAND

An inflatable Santa Claus is displayed outside a shop in Baghdad's Tahrir Square. AFP

A Lebanese child dressed in a Santa Claus outfit holds a balloon at a Christmas market set up on Martyr's square, the epicentre of anti-government protests, in the capital Beirut's downtown district. AFP

People wearing protective face masks walk near a dog dressed up as Santa Claus on a kids' bike, during a parade ahead of Christmas in downtown Beirut, Lebanon. REUTERS

A woman dressed as Santa Claus stands on a decorated vehicle, during a parade ahead of Christmas in downtown Beirut, Lebanon. REUTERS

Lebanese people gather next to a giant Christmas tree which has been officially lit up at the Ashrafieh area in Beirut, Lebanon. The celebration comes amid the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic and the country's severe economic crisis, which comes four months after the blast at Beirut port. EPA

Workers restore the windows of a house as Lebanese youths dressed as Santa Clause, polar bears and Santa's helpers parade ahead of Christmas along Gouraud street in the capital Beirut's Gemmayzeh neighbourhood, one of the hardest hit by a massive explosion that shook the city on August 4, causing extensive damage to buildings and leaving scores of people dead or injured. AFP

Lebanese people gather next to a giant Christmas tree which has been officially lit up at the Ashrafieh area in Beirut, Lebanon. The celebration comes amid the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic and the country's severe economic crisis, which comes four months after the blast at Beirut port. EPA

Lebanese people gather next to a giant Christmas tree which has been officially lit up at the Ashrafieh area in Beirut, Lebanon. The celebration comes amid the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic and the country's severe economic crisis, which comes four months after the blast at Beirut port. EPA

A Muslim woman attends the Christmas tree lighting ceremony in Beirut's Gemmayzeh neighbourhood. International donors Friday laid out a $2.5-billion response plan to the devastating port blast in Beirut in August, urging reforms in the crisis-hit country. The European Union, United Nations and World Bank published the plan four months after the country's worst peacetime disaster on August 4 that killed more than 200 people, wounded thousands and ravaged a huge part of Beirut. AFP

Children perform during the Christmas Tree lighting ceremony in Beirut's Gemmayzeh neighbourhood. International donors Friday laid out a $2.5-billion response plan to the devastating port blast in Beirut in August, urging reforms in the crisis-hit country. The European Union, United Nations and World Bank published the plan four months after the country's worst peacetime disaster on August 4 that killed more than 200 people, wounded thousands and ravaged a huge part of Beirut. AFP

Syrians shop at a charity bazaar held at the Patriarchate of Antioch and All The East in Damascus, Syria. The bazaar is held under the title 'Talk, We Are With You' as part of the worldwide 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, which is an annual international campaign that kicked off on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and runs until 10 December. EPA

General view of Christmas decorations at a mall in Amman, Jordan. REUTERS

People buy gifts ahead of Christmas in the city of Fuhais near Amman Jordan. REUTERS

A woman displays gifts in her store ahead of Christmas at a mall, amid fears over rising numbers of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in Amman, Jordan. REUTERS

Christmas in the Middle East: Preparations around the region – in pictures

Check out the latest images as young and old around the region get ready to celebrate the holiday

The National

December 17, 2020

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More on Christmas in the Middle East:

As a Papal visit approaches, Iraqi Christians still worry for their safety

Pandemic forces low-key Christmas tree lighting in Byblos, Lebanon

Quranic verses and Christmas lights: my multifaith family's holidays