Municipality Hands Out Free Christmas Trees
Santa Claus hands his bell to five year old Ryuya Ando, who energetically shakes it and giggles. Ando’s parents, United Nations employees from
“People don’t usually celebrate Christmas here in
It is their second Christmas in
“We’re going to put Christmas tree decorations,” the irrepressible Ryuya told The
“Last year we went to a choral concert,” she told The Media Line. “This year we’ll probably go to church but it will be so nice to have a small tree.”
The aqualaria was specially chosen because it can be replanted and can grow very tall. Jamal Amin, a Muslim who is in charge of the project on behalf of the Jewish mayor Nir Barkat, says the city has a special deal with a nursery just outside the city to provide the trees. Each one costs $25, he says, not counting the workers to bring the trees and distribute them. The city gives out a total of 100 trees and there is often more demand that supply.
Amin says the project is meant for Christian residents of
“I look in their identity cards to check that Christian,” he told The Media Line. “I don’t want people taking the trees and reselling them.”
Many of those standing on line at the Jaffa Gate were Russian speakers.
“I’m not Christian but in
The focus of Christmas celebrations is not
Municipal worker Jamal Amin says the city wants to help its Christian residents enjoy the holiday.
“Just as we decorate for Muslim and Jewish holidays, we give away the trees for Christmas,” he told The Media Line. “We hope people will keep the trees and replant them.”
Hideyuki Ando from
“Giving them away like this is a message of peace,” he said.