Christmas is among the most popular holidays in the Christian calendar and is indeed celebrated in Syria.Christmas in Syria is perhaps surprisingly a big deal and symbols of Christmas can be found throughout all of Damascus.In fact, you can find many Syrian people, Christian and not, adorned in Santa hats and with bells. Also, the Christmas trees are present and many people flock to the Qassaa neighborhood to celebrate as a community.
Christmas in Syria is actually widely celebrated, not just in Christian communities!While only 10% of the Syrian population follows Christianity, most Syrian people celebrate Christmas and share greetings and good wishes with their neighbors and friends using the Arabic word “Milad Majid,” which means “Merry Christmas.”Churches hold special midnight masses, and the streets in Christian-majority areas areadorned with lights, and Christmas trees which create an atmosphere of unity andwarmth.Usually, in Syria, you can feel the Christmas celebration atmosphere approaching from late November or December to early January.
There are many holidays in Christianity, some of which are better known than others, and all holidays can be celebrated or observed differently.In August, there is the Marmarita Carnival, a celebration of the Feast of the Virgin Mary held in the small community of Marmarita in the Homs countryside. There is also the Feast of the Cross in September, which celebrates Saint Helene’s finding of the original cross and is held in Maaloula, one of the most important towns in Syria for Syrian Orthodox Christians.In January, Solemnity of Mary.
The weather is usually very cold in Syria during the months of celebrations.Christians celebrate their most important holiday.The celebrations take many forms from spectacular Christmas trees, colorful decorations, and Christmas songs blasting from almost everywhere to life-size nativity scenes in big and famous churches and squares in Damascus.Santa Claus can be found walking the streets of Damascus! Syrians call Father Christmas ‘Papa Noel’ although the word Santa Claus is also quite commonIn the Christian quarter of the capital, you can find many Churches buzzing with heartwarming cultural performances.The houses, buildings, trees, shopping centers, and roads are festooned with Christmas lights to reflect the moods of the Christmas season.
Syrian Christmas traditions include attending midnight mass, lighting candles, and setting up nativity scenes at home. One unique tradition is the lighting of bonfires in some villages.Another cherished custom is visiting relatives andneighbors to exchange blessings and seasonal treats.The streets are alive with laughter, and music.Also, the scent of festive street food through the air.Every building and every street corner seems to be part of one grand celebration.
Of course, no Syrian event would be complete without more Syrian food than you can eat, and Christmas is no different!Christmas dinner is also a tradition followed by Christians in Syria, eating lamb or turkey, pastries, nuts, and homemade dishes.Families often gather to prepare meals together, ensuring that every dish reflects love and care.
New Year’s Day, which is on January 1, marks the start of the year, and it’s a public holiday in many countries.Christmas is a time of shopping, church attendance, and in-home parties. New Year’s Eve is a time for remembering the past and looking forward to the future.New Year’s Eve in Syria is celebrated by people of all backgrounds, making it a truly inclusivefestivity. In addition, families and friends gather to welcome the new year with fireworks, music, and traditional meals. Many people also engage in the tradition of setting New Year’s resolutions for a fresh start.Actually, New Year is a public holiday in Syria. It is a day off for the general population, and schools and most businesses are closed.
Traditions from other nations are making inroads in Syria. In this photo of Hamidiyeh Souk in Damascus, shoppers can find all kinds of Christmas tree decorations along with red stockings to hang up on Christmas Eve.You can see Everyone in full celebration, out on the streets, coming together to celebrate with markets, dancing in the streets, and the Christmas light display.
fell in love with Syria for its incredible history, food, and lovely Syrian people. Wandering through the narrow ancient streets, buying desserts in the Souq, marveling at the architecture of the mosques and churches, and drinking tea in a Qushleh café.Our guide’s knowledge of the incredible sites in Syria that you want to visit is just perfect.Join us for a very special Syria Christmas tour
For those visiting Syria during Christmas, there are unique souvenirs to bring back. Traditional Syrian ornaments make meaningful gifts.Additionally, you can purchase local delicacies like Maamoul or a bottle of Syrian olive oil, which isoften used in festive cooking.In fact, during the Christmas season, there are a lot of gifts decorated for Christmas.
Looking for somewhere unique to spend your Christmas this year? Join us in Syria and create your unique Christmas tale for your family and friends back home.
Want to Explore Syria? Embark on a journey to Syria.
For more information about Syria please get in touch with us today! Alternatively, check out our extensive range of group Syria tours.
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Josh 2024-06-23 Lulu was our tour guide in Damascus in October 2022 and she was the best guide we could‘ve hopefully for! We had a tight schedule so we asked to see as much as possible, which she happily obliged to. She has a very interesting background, knowing every last bit of the city, its culture, history and food! She speaks multiple languages, including Japanese (!) and was just a fantastic guide to have. 10/10 would recommend. Samantha Echeverria 2024-06-23 An extraordinary and humbling experience. From start to finish the whole experience was an adventure, learning of the Syrians deep history gives a great insight to their collective strength and dedication to their culture. To walk the same footsteps as mentioned in the Bible and Quran is profound and indescribable. Overall I was incredibly humbled by my experience in Syria. Thank you again for the experience of a lifetime, and I look forward to coming back to Syria soon 🤲🏼 Per Sommer 2024-05-31 Jeg rejste tre dage sammen med Tambi i det nordlige Syrien. Det var en uforglemmelig oplevelse. Sammen besøgte vi Homes, Krak de Chevaliers, Maloula, Aleppo, Arward Island og Apamea. Ikke bare er Tambi blevet en god ven, men han har også en kæmpe viden om de steder, som vi besøgte. Et af højdepunkterne var også at være på besøg hos Tambi i hans lejlighed og møde hans kone. Her fik vi te, kager og en god snak om oplevelserne under den lange krige. Jeg kan kun give Tambi mine varmeste anbefalinger. Marco Arenas 2024-05-31 I was in Syria a few years ago doing a little tour with Ayoub and the experience was amazing, Ayoub and his team were marvelous guides all around the country, making the most of the trip. Their service is amazing. I highly recommend Ayoub because he is reliable and well-organized. I am looking forward to coming back to Syria! Junaidi 2024-05-21 I recently had the pleasure of exploring Syria with Tambee as our tour guide, and I can't recommend him highly enough. Tambee’s deep knowledge of Syria's rich history and culture brought every site we visited to life. His passion for the country was evident in the way he shared stories and historical insights, making the experience both educational and enjoyable. Tambee’s professionalism and attentiveness were remarkable. He ensured our group felt safe and comfortable at all times, handling all logistics seamlessly. His ability to navigate the complexities of travel in Syria, combined with his warm and friendly demeanor, made our journey both smooth and memorable. What I really love is his knowledge of Islamic History. The way he told me the History of Islam while we are standing on the historical site itself just gave me goosebumps. He can make the history comes to life. In summary, Tambee is an exceptional tour guide whose expertise and dedication significantly enhanced our Syrian adventure. If you're planning a trip to Syria, do yourself a favor and contact Tambee. You won't be disappointed! Joel Lara 2024-05-20 Everything on the tour was amazing. Whatever you need to feel comfortable, they will go out of their way to make sure you feel okay. Tambi was our tour guide and I honestly would not have switched anything about it. He is one of the best tour guides I’ve ever met. Someone that is really passionate about sharing the past, present and future of Syria. You need to book your trip to Syria as soon as possible. There is so much history to be seen in this country. Do yourself a favor and don’t listen to what western media would say about this country. Saying it’s all about terrorism and dangerous, that’s a HUGE lie, go see for yourself how kind and loving those people in Syria are. As for the war in Israel, it feels really safe in Syria. You going there gives people hope for a better future. Visa costs depend on nationality. As a US citizen my Visa was pretty costly 220$. It was WORTH IT! Cymbie Lumbao 2024-05-20 Syria was definitely on our list of country to visit. It exceeded our expectations! Syrians are the most hospitable and warmest people we have ever met. The history is amazing! Tambee is our tour guide and Tayseer is our driver. They are the best! Tambee is very passionate about his country and their history. We felt really safe and well taken care of. We would definitely visit again. We went in for a tour of Syria and came out with a lifelong Syrian friends! 🙏🏽🇸🇾 thank you for a wonderful experience! Shukran! Rahul Mudumba 2024-05-19 Tambee was fantastic, and made sure I had an incredible trip! Filippo Volpato 2024-05-18 Tambee was the most exquisite guide we could have ever wanted. Always attentive, extremely knowledgeable and open to adjust the itinerary based on your interests (expect surprises for you!). Hopefully we will be back to this beautiful country, that Tambee made us fall in love with. Michael Van Arragon 2024-05-18 Ask for Tambee! There is so much to learn about the history and future of our shared humanity in this important and beautiful country. I travelled 10 days across a large part of Syria and wish I could've stayed. Tambee who emphasizes the "intangible" is a talented and enthusiastic story teller with an amazing personal connection to the people and culture. He will help you come away with a big picture appreciation of everything youre seeing and with a specialist's attention to detail; help you deepen your own sense of what is happening today in the region. These are some seriously friendly people- a visit to Syria like this one is so special.
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Ayoub Al Smadi
Ayoub boasts over five years of tour guiding and tour operator expertise. he has a master’s degree in planning and managing sustainable tourism development, and his cheerful, vibrant personality makes every moment with him fly by unnoticed.
