Festive Christmas market lights up Old City
394 views · Published 23 December 2018 · 3:52 · Indexed 20 September 2026
Channel: AP Archive · 2018 · News & Politics
(18 Dec 2018) LEADIN: Christmas celebrations are underway in Jerusalem. Tourists and locals have been visiting a festive market in the Old City. STORYLINE: Christmas magic in Jerusalem. The Old City has been transformed into a festive wonderland with twinkling lights, music and handmade crafts for sale at a Christmas market. Nadia Qudsieh is selling lights decorated with popular cartoon characters. "We are here for two to three days, our stall is open this year, very organised and clean, and everyone benefits from this," she says. Locals and tourists come to enjoy the holiday atmosphere. Jerusalem holds huge religious significance for Christians, Jews and Muslims alike. Yael Assor, a Jewish Jerusalem resident, says the Christmas in the Old City is "like nowhere else". "It really brings everybody together, from various places in the city including eastern and western Jerusalem in a celebration of happiness." "The gathering of the minorities and Palestinians in this place is very important," says Marwa Aseleh, another Jerusalem resident. "It's not only celebrations for Israelis that take place here, there's also celebrations that happen for us, also during Ramadan (similar celebrations) happen like this." Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without a visit to Santa. Girls and boys line up to see if they're on the nice list or the naughty list - and to let the big man know what they'd like to get in their stockings. Santa, otherwise known as Issa Kassissieh, says he does this to "bring joy". The holiday mood comes despite a spike in deadly Israeli-Palestinian violence last week, including the Givat Assaf shooting that killed two Israeli soldiers. More than 130 Palestinians have been arrested in recent days in Israel's search for a suspect. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/ You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/08ae2696b6b9d1cc1ddb36928613d0da
