Here in the Jewish parts of the Holy Land you would never know that Christmas starts tomorrow evening.
So for you, gentle readers, I made a trip into Jerusalem today and walked through the Christian Quarter of the Old City in search of red and green of the season.
+(800x600).jpg)
Right inside the city wall a life-size Santa robot was singing and talking, bowing and waving.
.jpg)
A picture was hung from the New Gate proclaiming "Glory to God in the Ela and on earth peace and happiness in people."
Ela? I guess that means something like "highest"?
This seems to be a translation from Arabic.
The baby's halo looks none too comfortable to sleep on.
(All these photos can be twice enlarged.)
.jpg)
The big Palestinian school had a big tree and a big picture near their gate.
Collège des Frères is one of over 1,000 schools world-wide that is owned and operated by the Congregation of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, also known as the De La Salle Christian Brothers, based in Rome.
.jpg)
Christ Church had a Christmas tree, albeit a rather scrawny one.
.
Our Keren Kayemet/JNF distributes Christmas trees to the Christian population of Jerusalem every year just before the holiday.
See my impressions of that happy event here .
.
More blog pictures of local Christmas 2008-2011 are here. Welcome.
.
Merry Christmas to all my Christian friends out there!
.
The festive mood of the season seems to be in the full swing. Santa and the Christmas tree are very familiar. We too have them here.
ReplyDeleteI like your observation about the helo in the portrait (painting?) above the gate. It doesn't look very comfortable indeed.
Thanks for posting such wonderful photos. I may not comment much these days Dina, but I am always here... lurking and enjoying!
ReplyDeleteEki, thanks for telling us that. So there really is a Santa, even in Indonesia. :)
ReplyDeleteFran, shalom. I am happy to know you visit here; you are welcome to lurk. :) I read your posts and enjoy your music regularly, too. Merry Christmas!
What fun to see the Christmas celebrations in full gear where it all started.
ReplyDeleteEnergy in your city must be felt high.
ReplyDeleteHope everything remains peaceful and bright. Thank you for these interesting impressions.
I think a halo would be uncomfortable for many reasons, and in many ways! But I guess somebody's got to wear it.
ReplyDeleteA fun post, Dina.
Here there are a lot of Christmas displays in peoples' front yards and Christmas lights and trees everywhere. It's interesting to see what's going on in your part of the world.
ReplyDeleteHappy Christmas, Dina :)
Great shots Dina, thanks for the blessing. Happy Hanukkah to you.
ReplyDeleteHow nice. Great pictures Dina. We do have most of lights and Christmas trees in my city it is not common with paintings hanging around.
ReplyDeleteI think Ela means:
Glory to God in the "highest"!
Hi Dina, it is Irina here.
ReplyDeleteThank you, thank you so much!
I was in Israel first week of December, at Dead sea with my mother (she feels very lonely after my father's death so I hoped this trip would distract her. She (and me, too) was so happy and liked you country so much. The amount of work and love people invest in desserts, the wish for peace (but very prepared to war and always on guard) are amazing. We went to Jerusalem one day, I though about you, but the meeting was not possible (organized tourist group with restricted time). Jerusalem is so strong and so powerful. The wailing wall became my personal revelation, the sourse of unexpected purity and belief. Besides the other saint places, of course. Let this city be blessed.
My blogging has some kind of a break or slow down these days. Something wrong is going on in my country and I can not find energy and joy to share photos of the city which becomes so unfriendly to people. Or maybe I am not honest here, as it is my attitude to blogging and internet that changes and influences web activity. But the spring will be here soon, it is always reviving, so let's see and hope for better.
Best wishes to you, to your friends and relatives, in the holidays season, peace for the holy land.
I am not active reader/commenter these days, so please forgive me for this and you are so true, we will stay friends whatever is waiting in future.
Love the Santas and the tree is always better of our 'public' ones!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the glimpses, Dina. You are so right about that halo! My favorite is Christ Church, looking simple and holy, lovely and quiet . . .
ReplyDeleteThank you Dina for making the trip in.
ReplyDelete