Dêrik Christians: We hope end of war, occupation in Syria in new year

The people around the world are preparing to welcome the new year with festivals, while the Christians’ Christmas celebrations in northern and eastern Syria limited to rituals and hymns inside the churches as a result of the circumstances in the region, while the Christians of Dêrik region hope that the war and occupation in Syria will end with the new year.

NEWS

31 December, 2019 16:48

NEJBEER OTHMAN _ ISSAM ABDULLAH

Glorious Christmas and New Year are the most important religious holidays for the Christian denominations, and these feasts have special rites, including decorating the Christmas tree that symbolizes life and resurrection after death, in addition to the religious rituals of hymns, prayers for the dead.

On these holidays and occasions, our agency had a visit to one of the Chaldean families in Dêrik to shed light on the Christian rituals during the Christmas period.

The citizen Sidi Hanna, during her talk with Hawar news agency, congratulated the peoples of the world on the occasion of Christmas and wished that peace and safety to prevail in Syria in general and the areas of north and east Syria in particular.

Sidi touched on the period of preparations and their readiness to prepare themselves to receive Christmas through hymns and prayers in the churches for three consecutive days.

She noted that several festivals were held, including a festive for children through the songs and dances related to the rites of the feast, and the distribution of gifts by Santa Claus to draw a smile on the faces of children on holidays.

With the advent of the New Year Sidi said, “The New Year’s Eve has its own rituals by decorating the Christmas tree, and the cave avatar which is existed in every home of Christian denominations, in addition to making popular foods, and wine juices that symbolize the blood of Christ according to Sidi description.”

Sidi stressed, “The celebrations of the birth of Christ are no longer the same as they were before with enthusiasm and joy in the result of the ongoing war in the country, and they have been limited to hymns and celebrations within churches and homes.”

At the end of her speech, Sidi wished the end of the occupation of the areas of Afrin, Serêkaniyê and Girê Spî, security and peace would spread throughout Syria, and the return of the displaced to their areas.

As for the citizen George Fatho, he congratulated the world and the Syrian people on the birth of Christ and the New Year, and wished that the year 2020 would be a year for good and peace for the region and for Syria in general.

ANHA