The Christmas Community
When I recently asked a friend from Aleppo what Christmas was like before the crisis, these are the questions she asked me, “Andrew,” she said, “I suspect community and an emphasis on spending time with those you love is central to your celebration of Christmas. It is no different in Syria.”
“How do you celebrate Advent? Is it through the sharing of the season with friends and family? Parties? Assembly of Christmas decorations? The singing of carols? The baking and consuming of copious amounts of sweets? The lighting of Advent Candles?”
If your Advent and Christmas are anything like mine, your answers to most of the above are probably ‘yes.’
When I recently asked a friend from Aleppo what Christmas was like before the crisis, these are the questions she asked me, “Andrew,” she said, “I suspect community and an emphasis on spending time with those you love is central to your celebration of Christmas. It is no different in Syria.”
There are few aspects of the Syrian conflict that can be called a trend. However, one ‘pattern’ of the crisis is an ever-shifting focal point of intense conflict and violence. As regions in Syria take turns bearing the brunt of the conflict, communities who were hosts to those displaced last week often find themselves displaced this week. Areas able to establish themselves as centers of assistance become victims of looting and destruction by both sides of the conflict. And the maintenance of community can often seem like an impossible task.
With over 120,000 casualties and several million displaced, both inside and outside of the country, communities throughout Syria continue to be torn apart by a conflict showing little indication of abating.
Though there is hope the scheduled Geneva II conference in January will begin a process of transition, many doubt the discovery of a denouement.
For many of the Christian communities, the reality of being a minority means being targeted at times by both sides of the conflict. Roughly two weeks ago armed members of the opposition took control of the town of Deir Attieh. Although Deir Attieh is predominantly Muslim, it hosts an Orthodox church, and small Orthodox community.
Just weeks before attacking Deir Attieh, the same armed members of the opposition took and occupied the predominantly Christian town of Saddad. As part of the occupation the armed personnel ransacked and looted the churches of the community.
Fearing a similar occurrence in Deir Attieh, many of Deir Attieh’s Muslim residents gathered in the church. When the armed opposition entered the church the residents of Deir Attieh stated: “If you want to defile this church, you will have to kill us first!”
It is easy to find opportunities for pessimism amidst the destruction of Syria’s nearly three-year long conflict. Yet, for me, instances such as the one described above continue to provide hope for Syria’s future. Amidst the rhetoric of the media, it is easy to forget there are many portions of Syrian society who wish simple to live a life free from violence and oppression, no matter where that oppression comes from.
As I continue with the Forum of Development, Culture, and Dialogue to think creatively about ways to work with those affected most deeply by the conflict, my thoughts this Advent continue to drift to Syria…
In the celebration of the birth of Christ, and the remembrance of the light of his love, may the light and strength of the Christmas community continue to shine throughout the year, especially in times of crisis.
Merry Christmas