Santa

 

Santa on a camel today

Santa came to town this morning. I happened to be on my way to the pharmacy, passing by New Gate when there was a huge traffic jam at that junction. Standing out from the crowd and cars and trucks , high on a camel was Santa Claus ho-ho-hoing into the Old City.

Three huge trucks carrying hundreds of Norfolk Pine were also at New Gate. The fresh young pines about a meter high were given free of charge to Christians who came to collect them by the hundreds. Even muslims came to get a tree for their homes. Yes I even saw a muslim couple going into a muslim shop selling Santa costumes and Christmas decorations, asking to buy a Santa suit for a child.

All this took place at 9am and the streets in the Christian Quarter were bustling with activity. In the evening the Christmas Bazaar at New Gate was so packed people could hardly move ahead. And the majority of visitors are Jews who happen to be celebrating Hanukkah. Literally thousands of Jews packed into the Christian Quarter to enjoy the Christmas fun ... Jewish children wearing santa hats and singing carols!! Visibly absent are the ultra-orthodox Jews who spit at these celebrations. For them, Christmas trees are idols, This year they succeeded in getting the police to stop us from decorating New Gate and outside it with lights and buntings. They're not very tolerant, nor charitable.