Design Crafters

According to Christmas.com, less than 3% of the population is Christian so Christmas is a day that is barely noticed by most of it’s inhabitants. Because of our military involvement over there, I thought it might be interesting to know how the Christian Iraqis celebrate Christmas.

According to Christmas.com, Christians in Iraq celebrate Christmas in a special way. On Christmas Eve, the family gathers together and one of the children reads about the birth of Jesus while other family members hold lighted candles. After the reading, a bonfire made of thorn bushes is lit in the yard. If the thorns burn to ashes, it means good luck. While the fire burns, everyone sings and when it dies, everyone jumps over the ashes three times. Each person makes a wish.

On Christmas Day, another bonfire is lit. This one is in the churchyard and the signals the beginning of the service. The bishop comes in carrying a figure of the Christ child on a red pillow. After the service, the bishop blesses one person with a touch. Then that person touches the person next to him or her. Everyone touches the next person in turn. Finally everyone has the "touch of peace" on Christmas Day. There is no mention as to whether on not these Iraqis send Christmas cards