Christians in northeast Syria’s Derik prepare for Christmas
DERIK, Syria (North Press) – Christians from the city of Derik, northeast Syria, say that the coronavirus outbreak has forced them to scale down their usual annual Christmas festivals for children.
Ithad Christian Evangelical Church in Derik held a children’s’ festival on Monday to celebrate the upcoming holiday.
Sawsan Issa, Sunday school teacher in Ithad Church, said that this year, “We held a party for a limited number – 100 children – due to coronavirus.”
“We prepared a program of four sessions and a lunch meal, and then session for Christmas carols and sketches and a story about the birth of the Lord Jesus. After that, Santa Claus will come and distribute presents to children,” Issa told North Press.
Mishlin Zayna, an instructor in the church, shared with her children in the festival that included only the children of the church due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“We came to celebrate with the church children on Lord Jesus’ day, to make them happy and enjoy these blessed days,” Zayna added.
“In past years we used to hold huge parties, carnivals, and distribute presents in the streets; however, this year, the pandemic and lockdown stopped us from holding such festivals,” she stated.