DECEMBER 2023

Christmas decor at Mar Adi Church in Karemlesh.
CHRISTMAS continued from page 19
dish is lovely, and the taste is kingly.
Although turkeys aren’t native to
Iraq, turkey (or in some cases, chicken)
is served on New Year’s Eve. Contrary to
how it is done is the States, Iraqi families
usually buy the live bird around
October to feed and fatten it before it
becomes the centerpiece of the traditional
New Year’s dinner. I n my memories,
while in custody, the bird was kept
on the roof of the house or in a cage for
safe keeping and to keep it away from
dogs or cats. To prevent it from flying
away, it was tied with a strong rope to a
pole or attached to a wall.
Just before the poor Alou-Alou/
Phsephes (as it was commonly called)
was martyred, Cognac or Scotch was
forced down the throat of the bird with
the belief that it would improve taste
and reduce the pain of the ultimate
guillotine and beheading.
Christmas Past and Present
Baghdad Christmases were once magical
affairs, shared by Christians and
Muslims alike. The streets were lit up,
the municipality sponsored fireworks,
and the last week of the year, from
Christmas right through New Year’s,
was one long party.
Christmas is no longer a big celebration
in Iraq, now dominated by a Shia-
Muslim government. Every year without
fail, some Muslim clerics criticize
parishioners for celebrating Christmas.
Today in Iraq, homes decorated
for Christmas are a rarity, and holiday
excursions, fireworks, or feasts during
Christmastime are hard to find. You can’t
see the friends you used to know; they
are either dead or have left the country.
Nowadays, it is hard to find a natural
Christmas tree in the Middle East.
The Christmas wish lists of young boys
reflect the country’s tragic trajectory.
In the past, boys asked for train sets or
a soccer ball or a toy car. Today, they
ask for toy guns or a tank.
It’s not utterly hopeless, however;
in 2018, the Iraqi government classified
December 25, Christmas Day, as a
national holiday. Only four other nations
out of 20 in Iraq’s vicinity — Sudan,
Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon — officially
recognize Christmas.
And Christmas traditions practiced
in Baghdad and other towns less than
a century ago are like many of the traditions
Chaldeans celebrate in the
United States. Kleicha and pacha are
more than just food. They are symbols
of Iraqi Chaldean culture and identity.
They represent the resilience and creativity
of the Iraqi people who have endured
many hardships and challenges.
They also reflect the diversity and richness
of Chaldean cuisine, which has
been influenced by various civilizations
and regions. Kleicha and pacha bring
people together and celebrate life.
In the West, we continue to do the
same things our ancestors did. We put
a Christmas tree up, make kleicha,
Christmas fruitcake, and pacha; we visit
grandparents and cousins, but it felt
more magical when we were kids. It’s
now a blend of both ways, East and West.
In the United States, we adapted
to the Christmas gift exchange, which
we didn’t really do in Iraq. We decorate
the exterior of our homes and surrounding
trees with Christmas lights.
Things change as we get older, however,
one thing remains intact. Christmas
is centered on the appreciation of
one’s family, the blessings of the gifts
of life along with never forgetting the
reason for the holiday celebration: the
birth of Christ.
Sources: The NY Times, Reuters,
DW Deutsche Welle, Jonathan Pinto,
Taghreed Thomas, Hanna Yousif, and
Wikipedia.
20 CHALDEAN NEWS DECEMBER 2023