Fireworks instead of mortar shells: Syrian Christians flood the streets in spiritual unity of Christmas celebrations
Flashy firework displays and bright lit Christmas trees popped up all across Syria to celebrate Christmas, a joyous day not only for the Christian minority, but to people of other faiths living in the country, RT reports.
Christians were among the minority groups persecuted by various Islamist militant forces, which tore Syria into pieces since 2011.
The central government has managed to regain control over most of the country, and life there is slowly returning to normality. That includes celebrating Christmas openly and without fear of sectarian violence.
Aleppo remains a major center of Christianity in Syria and naturally had some of the biggest Christmas events with thousands of people flooding the streets to take part in the festivities. Roughly half of the city was controlled by jihadist groups for years, and they were ousted in the last weeks of 2016.
Massive Christmas celebrations in #Aleppo and Damascus, #Syria.
— Sarah Abdallah (@sahouraxo) December 25, 2019
Something we would have never seen under Obama and Hillary’s Al-Qaeda and ISIS “rebels”. pic.twitter.com/0QDh5cx4Qe
Aleppo had the largest population of Christians in Syria prior to 2011. It was overtaken by jihadists in 2016 & since been liberated. #Christmas celebrations in the ancient city of #Aleppo, #Syria, are a beautiful sight to see. Thank God, Al-Qaeda & ISIS jihadists were defeated. pic.twitter.com/ZSNj1b9hOt
— Iraqi Christian Foundation (@iraqschristians) December 24, 2019