Iranian Christians Celebrate January 6th Christmas
2012-12-31 03:00 EST
For about 90% of Christians worldwide, Christmas 2012 is history. But
for many adherents of the Eastern Christian tradition, including up to
250 thousand Armenian Christians in Iran, the festivities have yet to
begin.
Armenian Christians celebrate Christmas Day on the 6th of January, not
on the 25th of December.
Streets in traditionally Christian neighborhoods in Iran are now
filled with people doing their Christmas shopping.
Colorful decorations hang on shop walls, pine trees flash at
pedestrians from storefront displays and children take pictures with
Santa.
Christmas here, like in the West, means colorful decorations, pine
trees, Santa Claus dolls and gifts for loved ones.
But Christmas celebrations in Iran have also incorporated something
from ancient Iranian traditions.
Armenian Christians have incorporated a traditional Iranian dish of
rice and fish into their Christmas celebrations.
In recent years, in the interests of environmental protection, the use
of artificial pine trees has become common.
This year, Tehran city authorities have gifted five thousand small
pine trees to Christians for Christmas celebrations.