by Manal Omar

IT'S THE season to be jolly, and signs of the Christmas spirit can be seen throughout Jordan. From the festive Christmas trees and gingerbread houses decorating hotel lobbies to the glimpses of Santa Clause, the festivities have begun.

No matter what activities are planned this Christmas, Jordan promises it will be one to be remembered. The aroma of fresh baked gingerbread cookies and the sounds of Christmas carols will delightfully bring in the new year.

One of the unique features of Christmas in Jordan is that the birth of Jesus Christ is celebrated on three different occasions. The different sectors of Christianity in Jordan celebrate it in their unique way, making the entire month filled with joyous activities and festivities. On 24-25 December the western style Christmas is celebrated in Amman while a traditional Middle Eastern Christmas is celebrated in outer villages.

During 6-7 January, the Greek Orthodox celebrate their Christmas with the community. On 18 January, the Armenian community hold their ceremonies. As a result, Christmas in Jordan and the Palestinian region is an extended season that captures the whole community.

At the same time, the many different Christian communities add a different flavor to Christmas celebrations. The American embassy share their traditional way of celebrating with the Jordanian community. On 15 December, they held an open reception with Christmas treats followed by a concert from the Blues Moon Band. The French community also add their traditional Christmas celebrations to the community hosting a number of activities to participate in the festivities. The German community in Jordan started one of their traditional rituals which includes lighting a candle four weeks in advance and maintaining the count-down until the arrival of Christmas.

Another distinguishing feature of a Jordanian Christmas is that it is near to the original place of the birth of Christ- Bethlehem. This adds a historical significance to the celebrations in Jordan. Many Christians in the community choose the option of spending the special religious occasion where Christmas originally started. A tour of Bethlehem and Beit Sahoor make spending the holidays in the Holy Land a monumental experience.

In Amman, the Christmas celebration started in early December. Local shops host Santa Clause, and the bigger shops offer children the chance to have their photo taken. The sounds of Christmas carols sung by young students can be heard in the streets and in hotel lobbies.

Many hotels are organizing intricate and fun-filled Christmas programs, making sure that adults and children alike participate in the many activities. Getting into the spirit of Christmas, Jordan's Inter.Continental Hotel provided complimentary Gluhwein, hot chocolate, pudding, minced pies, and other goodies during their Christmas tree lighting ceremony. Meanwhile, starting 18 December, Marriott hotel assures all children that Santa is available to hear their Christmas lists and have their pictures taken. Especially for adults, Forte Grand had Austrian musicians flown in to provide traditional Christmas carols, with a full promotion of food, schnapps, and beer.

Hotels are not the only ones providing options to spend the Christmas season in Amman. This year the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) have contributed to the spirit of Christmas. The YWCA has also planned a Christmas agenda for the community, families, and friends.

In preparation for the season, YWCA held a Christmas Sweets and Cake Bake Sale at the end of November. The bake sale was organized by the Student's Loan Committee and held in Mrs Daniel Khouri's home in Abdoun. All proceeds were donated to the fund for educational loans. In addition, YWCA's own Association Band presented their annual Classical Music Concert between 5-8 December. They performed popular Christmas carols at the Royal Cultural Center. These activities served as an introduction to the many festivities to come.

Perhaps one of the most spiritual experiences of a Christmas in Jordan is the traditional village celebrations. The magic of celebrating the birth so near the historical place of Bethlehem adds to the overall beauty of the festivities. These traditions have remained an intricate part of Jordanian Christian villages, and have remained unchanged for centuries. In a traditional Jordanian Christmas, there is no Christmas trees and stockings. The spirituality of Christmas is emphasized in one of the rituals which entails visiting the graves of ancestors on the morning of Christmas. Members of the family present coffee and sweets at the grave, as a sign of respect and remembrance of their forefathers. The ceremony is followed by families and friends exchanging visits and children receiving gifts.

Throughout Jordan the many different options to celebrate the season promise a merry Christmas. Jordan offers a unique glimpse into one of the most celebrated holidays in the world.