In Lebanon, Even Non-Christians Celebrate Christmas

Rabih Alameddine:

My family is Druze, not Christian. We were raised in a tradition that is not supposed to have silly manifestations of faith. [And yet] Every year I try to convince my sister not to celebrate Christmas. I tell her we’re not Christians. She says I’m wrapping the children’s presents wrong. […] My family now puts up more than one Christmas tree. My two sisters each decorate a tree — for the children, of course — and my mother has one, for when the grandchildren come to visit. Every year.

This is very common in Lebanon. We’re hearing a lot of stories these days about how the Middle East is becoming a hostile place for Christians. But if the international media looks closer, they’ll find bright spots in the shape of Mohammeds decorating Christmas trees every year in Lebanon.

Update: Apparently, in Egypt too. There are much more Christmas trees being sold in Egypt than Christians who celebrate the occasion, calculates Juan Cole..