Christmas in Iraq
Christmas is knocking the doors, So I’m going to talk about Christmas in Iraq. Christians in Iraq usually celebrate Xmas and have a two day holiday which is 25th and 26th of Dec. their traditions is very similar to our Eid with few differences. they have Christmas tree with the usual decoration, they go to church for prayers and then start their Eid similar to us. Muslims and Christians visit each other in Eid (by the way the Christians called their Christmas, Eid too). Me and my husband usually visit our friends in Christmas and they visit us in our Eid too. they serve also our traditional Kulaicha besides some pastries just like us. my daughter have her share of gifts in Xmas too, and she always asks me why Santa doesn’t come to our house too? and I don’t know what to tell her, so I usually say that Santa brings your gifts and put them in our friends house so you can take them from there. For us we buy presents to our Christian friends when we visit them.
The Iraqis have strong bonds between them, in spite of religion or ethnic differences, we all work together, have neighbors from other religions, visit each other and respect our differences. my neighbors are shias, my best friends are Christians and Kurds and I’m Sunni, but we all have good relations between us. I’m afraid of those who are trying hard to tear us a part, for me I don’t think they will succeed but I’m sure they are from outside Iraq, and they want Iraq to separate into several parts or maybe drag it to civil war. In Iraq’s history for the few past hundreds of years we had no problems with each other so I think those terrorists will lose.
Even in our holly book, the Quran clearly states that Christians, Jews, and us Muslims we all worship the same God (which in Arabic we call Allah), and believing in Jesus and Moses is one of the basic conditions of being a Muslim. The Quran also asks us to live in peace with them and work and eat their food and even allows Muslim men to get married from them so his children will be Muslims but his wife can stay on her religion. We have unfortunately many ignorant people that know nothing about Islam and talk in his name, and destroy Islam’s reputation to others. I quote an ayah from the Quran :
“Lo! those who believe (in that which is revealed unto thee, Muhammad), and those who are Jews, and Christians, and Sabaeans whoever believeth in Allah and the Last Day and doeth right surely their reward is with their Lord, and there shall no fear come upon them neither shall they grieve.” (albakara-62 )
Today I went to my parents house and I took my daughter to their neighbor’s house because they have a daughter in her age and she likes to play with her, the neighbors are Christians and they are the best neighbor a person can have. I asked the mother if they will go to church in Christmas as they used to go every year, she said no with sorrow. She is afraid from attacking the churches in Christmas, but she said I know many will go what ever will happen since they will go to the house of God. I really hated myself at this moment and I did not know what to tell her, I told her that not only you are targeted, look what they had done in Najaf and Karbala two days ago, they are trying hard to tear us apart, but I don’t know who are they. I felt so silly that moment.
also today, my father told me that he is afraid from a civil war, he said that those who are doing these things they know exactly what they are doing. I tried to tell him it’s impossible but he said no, they will succeed in making a civil war and then divide Iraq to peaces. I still don’t believe in this, The US will not allow this to happen because it will mean that they have failed in everything they fought for.
Well, this subject is supposed to be on Christmas but I want to clear few things to you, I don’t know how much you know about us. Merry Xmas to you all, and I wish you a nice Xmas always.
The Iraqis have strong bonds between them, in spite of religion or ethnic differences, we all work together, have neighbors from other religions, visit each other and respect our differences. my neighbors are shias, my best friends are Christians and Kurds and I’m Sunni, but we all have good relations between us. I’m afraid of those who are trying hard to tear us a part, for me I don’t think they will succeed but I’m sure they are from outside Iraq, and they want Iraq to separate into several parts or maybe drag it to civil war. In Iraq’s history for the few past hundreds of years we had no problems with each other so I think those terrorists will lose.
Even in our holly book, the Quran clearly states that Christians, Jews, and us Muslims we all worship the same God (which in Arabic we call Allah), and believing in Jesus and Moses is one of the basic conditions of being a Muslim. The Quran also asks us to live in peace with them and work and eat their food and even allows Muslim men to get married from them so his children will be Muslims but his wife can stay on her religion. We have unfortunately many ignorant people that know nothing about Islam and talk in his name, and destroy Islam’s reputation to others. I quote an ayah from the Quran :
“Lo! those who believe (in that which is revealed unto thee, Muhammad), and those who are Jews, and Christians, and Sabaeans whoever believeth in Allah and the Last Day and doeth right surely their reward is with their Lord, and there shall no fear come upon them neither shall they grieve.” (albakara-62 )
Today I went to my parents house and I took my daughter to their neighbor’s house because they have a daughter in her age and she likes to play with her, the neighbors are Christians and they are the best neighbor a person can have. I asked the mother if they will go to church in Christmas as they used to go every year, she said no with sorrow. She is afraid from attacking the churches in Christmas, but she said I know many will go what ever will happen since they will go to the house of God. I really hated myself at this moment and I did not know what to tell her, I told her that not only you are targeted, look what they had done in Najaf and Karbala two days ago, they are trying hard to tear us apart, but I don’t know who are they. I felt so silly that moment.
also today, my father told me that he is afraid from a civil war, he said that those who are doing these things they know exactly what they are doing. I tried to tell him it’s impossible but he said no, they will succeed in making a civil war and then divide Iraq to peaces. I still don’t believe in this, The US will not allow this to happen because it will mean that they have failed in everything they fought for.
Well, this subject is supposed to be on Christmas but I want to clear few things to you, I don’t know how much you know about us. Merry Xmas to you all, and I wish you a nice Xmas always.
posted by rose at 1:07 AM
38 Comments:
Rose, I have never been able to see how this war could bring anything but terror and despair to your country. I had lived in the US for over 40 years, but fled to Canada when I saw where the election was headed. If things become unbearable, concider moving to Canada, there is a large Moslem population here, discrimination is at a minimum, and distaste for America Policy is widespread.
Best of Wishes
Terry
Merry Christmas to you Rose.
You and most of your people have a strong trust and faith in your future. Haider Ajina has translated the results of a poll of 5,000 Iraqis, taken in and around Baghdad, that appeared in the Arabic newspaper Alsabah Haider Ajina:
83% think the elections will take place as scheduled.
80% do NOT support postponing the election.
84% do NOT support dialog with the deposed Baathists.
When asked: What will you base your vote on?
65% Political agenda
14% Faction origin
4% Party Affiliation
12% National Background
5% Other reasons
Rose I think those results is very telling of where the heart of your people is, and that your father is probably wrong. In my heart, and the heart of many American people, is not only for success for you and your people, but for freedom everywhere. So that people like Terry above can decent without fear of reprimands. Although most of us disagree with him, it is his freedom to speak his mind.
I wish you and your people successful elections and a peaceful future.
Sandi
One more thing Rose. Some day, Iraq will have to take over military operations, and it can't be too soon for the us in the USA. That is why we and other countries are training your military and police.
The day is coming when your people will have to stand up on your own. So far there have been problems, such as Iraqi soldiers leaving the battle field when the going gets tough. I don't know what the reasons for this is, wether it is insuficient training, or what. But it has to change.
Your country has to have it's own intelllignece and military in place in order for the US and coallition to leave, and Iraq still be under secure control. I would like to know if you have any ideas why this is running into problems, and taking so long.
Sandi
Rose,
Thank for a post most needed these days. I like the way you explained santa to your daughter. Very cool.
Rose, thanks for your post! This is my first visit to your site but I will definitely come back in the future.
Most Americans are supporting you (the one's that do not are confused and mislead by hate and propaganda, please forgive them)
Take Care!
Rose - I agree in part with your father that the terrorists ARE trying to cause a civil war in your country. I think they are attempting to do some other things as well. I disagree with him about the eventual success of that. I believe they will NOT be successful. The only thing that needs to happen in order to thwart their plans is to keep hammering away - refuse to give up or give in - refuse to allow them to do it.
Thank you for sharing about Christmas. Stand together and don't allow ANYONE to tear your friendships apart. Please don't feel silly about telling your friends how you feel - you didn't sound at all silly to me. We are getting ready for our Christmas celebrations and now pretty much all that is left for me to do is to clean my house and then Friday bake the sweetbread. I won't attend church as I am not a very good Catholic and I don't like the heavy crowds at the church on that day. I'll take the girls to church next week though.
Take care and Merry Christmas to you.
Merry Christmas Rose! I wish you and yours the very best always.
"many ignorant people that know nothing about Islam"
as opposed to the many ignorant people who know everything about Islam????
"destroy Islam’s reputation to others"
Islam doesnt need ignorant unbelievers to destroy its reputation. I think the believers are doing a fine job of it.
Merry Christmas from a snow-covered Texas, USA!
What? Your neighbors don't think of you as 'infidels'?? How dare they! How dare you share and honor each other's holidays! That's just, just too 'peacable' (as some say down here in Texas).
Your relations with your neighbors is *exactly* what America wants for *all* of Iraq (and has been spending precious blood and money for). Thank you for living that way and pass on my thanks to *all* of your neighbors.
Merry Christmas and a belated Happy Eid,
I have always felt religious tolerance was the rule in Iraq, because no one sect was an overwhelming majority. Iraq would be a lot more peaceful if Syria(Baathists) and Iran(Islamic Fanatists) would leave it alone.
Fewer Iraqis and Americans believe that the violence stems from American policy than the rest of the world. Why do you suppose that is? Is it the classic example of blaming the victims, not the perpitrators of the violence? All the world sees is the negative, because that is what they want to see! 50 million people freed from tyranny and oppression can never be concidered a mistake or misguided by anyone who's vision is not obscured by hatred.
My daughter is home for Christmas, but is being deployed by the US Army to Iraq in February. For both of our sakes, I hope the violence in Iraq decreases after the elections like it has in Afghanistan.
May both of our families have a safe 2005.
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Terry said...
Rose, I have never been able to see how this war could bring anything but terror and despair to your country. Translation, I wish America had left Saddam alone so he could continue to kill and oppress you unmolested! Your freedom is not worth one act of violence nor any sacrifice!I had lived in the US for over 40 years, but fled to Canada when I saw where the election was headed. Translation, I am a weak willed loser that has delusions that my opinion means something! I was a parasite on America for 40 years, but I run away when things don’t go my way!If things become unbearable, concider moving to Canada, there is a large Moslem population here, discrimination is at a minimum, and distaste for America Policy is widespread.
Best of Wishes
Terry Translation, If I get my wish and Iraq goes up in flames, flee to Canada like I did, Canadians only discriminate against white males and rich people. I have also fallen in with a large bunch of losers who also wish the worst for Iraq and America.
I Hope Things Go To Hell Soon,
Papa Smurf
On Christmas Day in 1864 - in the midst of America's Civil War, and after the tragic death of his wife and the crippling injury of his son from war wounds - the poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote:
"I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
. . .
"And in despair I bowed my head;
'There is no peace on earth,' I said;
'For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!'
"Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
'God is not dead; nor doth he sleep!
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men!'"
-----
Also, I'd like to add that my favorite poet, Robert Frost, has written:
"Earth's the right place for love. I don't know where it's likely to go better."
-----
And, of the First Good News, Luke writes:
"And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.'" -- Luke 2:13-14
To which all I can add is -- "So may it be."
Merry Christmas to All from a Yankee curmudgeon in New London, Connecticut.
Rose this is so beautiful in so many ways. Thank you for sharing it. :)
Most of my friends are internationals and as an American who spends most of my time in large cities I can certainly appreciate the differences in culture, ethnicity, religion and geography and how holidays can be shared between folks with such differences.
My Eid prayer this year is for peace in your lands. Peace begins in the hearts of every young boy and girl and is enhanced by every laugh that is shared with another. Thank you for the most excellent gift of peace you are giving to your children. If our differences are a test our tolerance, your wonderful family is well equiped to pass that test throughout their entire lives.
May peace and love be with you and your family in the new year.
Rose may the Lord give the blessings of peace to you and all your fellow citizens who believe in your nation.
Rose, as a Canadian, I too would welcome you to my country. Can't say I particularly welcome folks like Terry, though. Like Terry, my fellow Canucks seem to think leaving Iraq under the thumb of a brutal dictator is okay, as long as they can bash the US.
If Iraqis can pull off the transition to democracy, then Americans can be rightly proud of their part in putting an end to that tyranical regime, and perhaps several others in the world. And even if it doesn't end up all glorious and rosy, my hat is off to my southern neighbours for giving it their best shot.
My father and several of my uncles were WWII vets. My dad saw action as a foot soldier in continental Europe and my uncle, a pilot in the RCAF, was shot down over France and became a prisoner of war. They knew what it took to defeat tyrany.
Unfortunately, the current generation of Canadians seems to have lost touch with their history and are foolishly giving "sanctuary" to Americans who prefer that Iraqis live under tyrany. This, plus the fact that we have let our armed forces atrophy to a deplorable state, causes me great shame.
Best of the season to all of you, whatever your faith or lack thereof!!
Hi Rose,
This was a very nice post - a lot of fun to read. Merry Christmas to you too, Rose.
One suggestion for your daughter: if she is asking about Santa, there's no harm in letting Santa pay her a visit too. That way, she doesn't feel bad, especially if someone of her friends are getting gifts. Plus, it gives you an excuse to give your daughter a gift and make her happy.
When I was living in Canada, I used to work with someone who was a Sikh - he had also grown up in Canada. One day I asked him what he did for Christmas growing up, and I was surprised to learn they put up a Christmas tree every year, exchanged gifts, and "Santa" came to visit too. They did this for two reasons: one because they didn't want to have to tell their kids why all the other kids got presents and they didn't, and also because they just liked the tradition.
Shawn.
Interesting...I think I will add you to my blog roll. Selah!
My dear Rose,
So pleasant to read your post. I love to hear the personal stories and how Iraqi society goes on. It makes it so much more clearer that we are similar in wants and desires, to live in peace, to enjoy family and friends.
I am here preparing for Christmas celebration with my family. The gifts are baught and will be under the tree tomorrow. We will enjoy good food and some games, maybe watch a movie. It is pleasant, yes?
I am not sure how old your daughter is, but I think you did a good job of explaining to her how Santa works. Time enough, when she is older, to understand who Santa is and where the tradition came from and why it is not a tradition in your house.
Frankly, you have already taught her the most important lessons. People are different, but they are the same. Tolerance is beautiful and friendship does not count on religion or even politics, but on a personal level.
How lovely to meet you here in the blog world and know someone of your caliber. May we continue in friendship and the solidarity of ensuring a peaceful and free Iraq.
Merry Christmas, Happy Belated Eid and Joy in the New Year.
Kat-Missouri/USA
No problem, Strykeraunt. My biggest problem with the prevailing Canadian psyche is that we have, until recently, wanted to define our foreign policy on the basis of doing the opposite of whatever the Americans are doing. That's pretty stupid. We should be doing what is in our own best interests, regardless of whether it conforms or contradicts with America's foreign policy.
I am ashamed that my county decided to thumb its collective nose at the Iraqi people, just so they could snear at the US. Of course, it's not quite that simple, but if people are dying in the hundreds of thousands under a brutal dictator and my country doesn't feel any need to help, then I can only feel shame. The good news is, Canada's position in the world, and vis a vis the US, is changing under the watch of our new PM. It will take a while, but I hope we never again slip as low as we were under Chretien.
Rose, Merry Christmas and thank you for the lovely post. I have read in other blogs of the friendships and genuine good feelings among the Iraq people no matter what faith they professed. This is what we all want. I honor all who strive to practice their faith in whatever manner they choose. It does not make them better or worse as people so long as they do not do harm others. I would like you and your family as neighbors I am sure. I know that you will be happiest with your own neighbors in your own country so my wish for you is peace in Iraq. May God bless all of Iraq in the coming year.
Louise, you said: we have let our armed forces atrophy to a deplorable state, causes me great shame.
I agree with you 100%. The deterioration of the Canadian armed forces is a national disgrace. They have a number of good people in the Canadian armed forces, but their continued use of decrepit and outdated equipment only puts their lives at risk and undermines their effectiveness.
Strykeraunt: I wrote a post on my blog a couple of months ago titled Canada's National Inferiority Complex talking about just what you said (I was surprised I got several comments and emails from other Canadians who agreed with me). From what I've seen, many Canadians are way too hung-up on comparing themselves to Americans, and some seem to feel the need to engage in America-bashing to make themselves feel better. Of course, the reverse is not true (I've been living in the US for a few years and the only Canadian bashing I've seen was in a South Park cartoon).
Merry Christmas everyone!
Shawn.
Shawn: "many Canadians are way too hung-up on comparing themselves to Americans"
Exactly!!!!! If we could just get our eyes away from their fixation with looking south and turn back on to the rest of the planet, we could once again have some stature in the world. So many of us seem to think we have to prove we are different from Americans. I say who cares! What's so terrible about being very similar to the US and why should that be the only or even one of the sources of our national identity? As along as we remain obsessed with our relationship to our southern neighbours, we remain locked in this adolescent angst and we keep ourselves on the margins of global significance. My parent's generation were more out on the world stage where it counted than we are. I sure hope we can change.
Have a good Christmas tomorrow, Shawn. Hope it's a bit warmer for you now.
Greetings, Rose
I hope that you and yours are healthy and safe.
You speak true words with a good heart.
There is no more than that, that anyone could ask for.
Here is a story, about what Christmas really is all about, it is about two Iraqi soldiers that did the right thing for the right reasons.
This is my post
Papa Ray
West Texas
USA
Happy New year! May God be with you as you continue to push for a better future in Iraq. Selah!
Hey Rose! Nothing new from the front lines? Is everything alright? :(
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Hi Rose!
My name is Christian. I am in the 5the grade in Louisiana USA.
In class we were asked to choose a country and report on how they celebrate Christmas.
I chose Iraq, because I hear so much in the news and I am sad to hear about the terrible things happening in your country, but I have looked at google earth and have seen how very beautiful your country is.
I have researched some about your customs and religions and how your country spends its Christmas time, that is how I found your blog.
Can you tell me more about how you plan to spend Christmas?
Also, from the news reports I thought Sunni and Shiites and Christians didn't like each other in Iraq, but I can tell already from your blog that you have christian friends and shiite friends.
I am praying that you have a safe and happy christmas and I will be happy to hear back from you.
You can email me alutz@evangelacademy.com
Thank you and God Bless You!
Wonderful post, Rose! Thank you and Merry Christmas to you. And a Happy New Year. May Iraq and your family turn the corner in 2005 into a happier time.
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