I've been having a few discussion on the internet about representations of Christmas in regards to what is seen as religious and what is acceptable as a Winter Festival.
Santa Claus has it's origins in Saint Nicholas, obviously religion. He was a Saint. Jesus in a manger in a Nativity scene is obviously celebrating the birth of christ to the son of God. I'm sure there are many others, but as I've said previously I'm not here to write about religion, it has just intrigued me.
The coffee shops, like the UK and I assume other countries have their Christmas takeaway cups out. They are also selling cookies in the shape of bells, trees, stars, snowflakes and reindeers. At Birmingham airport last month I had a Santa cup in Costa Coffee, in Dubai I had a snowman. Both cups say made in the UK. I posted a picture on Instagram to ask if both cups were available in both countries and so the discussion began about religious representations of Christmas.
In the stores they are playing anything from Jingle Bells to I wish it could be Christmas everyday. There are trees, decorated to excess, decorations galore, signs for winter festivals, signs for Christmas Village. In 2 supermarkets there are nativity scenes for sale, Jesus in a Manger and life size Santa Claus in the Garden Centre. There's even a Santa's grotto in several of the Malls. I took the dog to see Santa. We've decorated our house on the outside as well as inside also.
There is an assumption that when one lives in Dubai, it is in an expat community. That the local malls cater for none Muslims and that's why certain things are available in certain areas. In our first house in Umm Sequiem, our land lady was Muslim, we rented over the Christmas period. On Christmas day, which isn't a public holiday, we had workmen fixing some plumbing, she apologised for interrupting our Christmas. My Muslim friends will wish me a Happy Christmas as I wish them a Happy Ramadan. The new area we live in, half our neighbours are Muslim and some of the children have come over to ask if Bob the Dog can come out to play and to look at the Christmas decorations, while their Mother waved from her front door and said 'hello'
I'm sure I could go out my way to find someone who is upset by all this. Who would rather I and others didn't do the above, that Christmas didn't happen in Dubai, along with numerous other things like selling alcohol and pork products or people wearing bikinis on a public beach. But I'm not here for that reason. I'm here to merely show you how Christmas is done here in Dubai if you choose to celebrate it or not.
There will be more photos next week as we have guests and I'll be getting out and about further a field. We've also booked a brunch for Christmas day while we'll eat and drink to excess, come home and watch a Christmas movie on the local TV stations.
Google 'origin of decorating a tree at Christmas' if you want to know more about how this all started.
I must say I do think Dubai decorate their trees better than I do.
Jumeriah Beach Residence
Ibn Battuta Mall
Mall of the Emirates
My surprise find this year was an actual tin of Quality Streets like the ones we get in the UK with soft centres, my favourites being the strawberry and orange creams.
Other Christmas related posts:
I wouldn't have guessed that there would be that much Christmas in Dubai! #MySundayPhoto
ReplyDeleteit surprised me also
DeleteThe thing I find fascinating and note from your images is the representation of snow.....even though the whole Nativity and bible stories took place in the Middle East. I recall some years ago being in the Caribbean just after Christmas and finding it odd that people had decorated their homes with snowmen etc! Anyway, doesn't surprise me Christmas is celebrated in Dubai. Jesus was an Islamic prophet and ex-pat community is so large it can't be ignored. Enjoy!
ReplyDeletefor some reason everyone wants to experience the snow and associates christmas with it, despite what you said about it all taking place over here anyway
DeleteI love all the trees, it's beginning to look very festive there now.
ReplyDeleteit sure is and it looks lovely everywhere
DeleteIt looks beautiful, Christmas is always meant to be cold and I think of snow when Christmas arrived. I imagine they think the opposite.
ReplyDeleteYet I see snowmen featuring still.
Thank you for linking up
they love a good winter festive scene here
DeleteI am finding these posts about Christmas in Dubai so interesting....
ReplyDeleteThe trees are stunning!
I love the soft centre one's in Quality Street too. I have been buying the boxes which only have the soft one's in. hehehe
it's rare to get a tin of soft centres over here
DeleteChristmas can be done whichever way each individual family feels and so I'm glad people from other cultures feel that they can embrace it as much as they want, snowmen and all. #mysundayphoto
ReplyDeleteit's great to be able to take part in all activities here and all cultures/religion join in with everyone else
DeleteI'm surprised to see Dubai having Christmas and such large trees too. #MySundayPhoto
ReplyDeletei was too when we first moved here
DeleteHi Suzanne, inmy ingnorance I thought that Christmas would not be celebrated in Dubai beyond the walls of Christian homes. I think it's wonderful that it is and that even when out and about you can see glimpses of Christmas. Here in Greece Christmas never used t be a big deal in the sense that it is in the UK. Christmas day is celebrated more as a Names day. New Year is when Father Christmas comes to the Greek children, which was a great way to explain how Fther Christmas mamanged to get around the world to all children.
ReplyDeletexx
that's a lovely way of explaining how santa gets around the world, I too was surprised with how much christmas was celebrated here also
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