Christmas Brings Joy to All

All the newswires and networks are running stories of the latest incident in Yemen,.....

All the newswires and networks are running stories of the latest incident in Yemen, the Al Qaeda ambush carried out by the US government, sanctioned by the Yemeni authorities, in Abyan, where Tariq Al-Fadhili, now a southern nationalist, has been holding court and campaigning for autonomy.

As the Yemeni authorities try to combat terrorism and western powers continue to fear that Yemen is becoming another Afghanistan, another story should be told. It is the Eve of the Islamic New Year and a Christmas party was under way.

Assaf Makaroun, a Christian Lebanese businessman living in Yemen, opens his doors to all and throws the party of the year.  Side by side, Yemenis, Lebanese, Palestinians, Syrians, Americans, British, French and others sit, mingle, and chat.  Nobody has any hang ups about the other’s religion; what is important is that Muslims and Christians come together to celebrate the occasion.

A six meter (20 foot) Christmas tree takes center stage, decked out in all its glory with holiday ornaments shimmering from its boughs.  Christmas carols are heard across the audio system, Silent Night is interspersed with Arabic music from the Gulf, Lebanon and Egypt.

Personnel from the British, Italian, Ethiopian and Pakistan embassies were present.  Santa Claus appears, laden with gifts. Gifts for all the children, Muslim and Christian alike, who share in the spirit of the festive holiday and the birth of Jesus Christ, as told in the book sacred to the three great religions, Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

Santa Claus in this part of the world arrives by camel not by reindeer.  One guest was sporting his camel Christmas tie as opposed to a reindeer tie.  Children follow Santa as he enters the room, and come away with beautifully wrapped gifts and many battery-operated Santa Clauses, singing Jingle Bells and We Wish You a Merry Christmas.

Emily, a Scottish lady who has been running a business in Sana’a for 10 years, said “that recently I was beginning to feel depressed by the political and economic situation, but the party tonight renewed all her love and enthusiasm for being in Yemen”.

Samia who is French said that she “was particularly sensitive by the look of all the children when Santa Claus came up with all his gifts.  In a country where the political situation is uncertain, the party was a perfect occasion to gather all the kids around Santa to make their dream come true”.

Major Yemeni businessmen were present and enjoying the good cheer.

The turkey and all its trimmings was a feast to behold.  As the evening wore on, dancing took place with nationalities of all stripes participating in the festive occasion.

The west sees another side. they cannot fathom that people live happily side by side in a culture that is alien to them, a culture that those of us who live here enjoy.  Security will remain an issue for all, but the spirit of the holidays pervades.