Syrians cancel Christmas festivities in solidarity with Gaza

Christmas celebrations in Syria have been limited to prayers in solidarity with the suffering in Gaza. The main churches in Syria, including the Syriac Catholic Church, Greek Orthodox, Syriac Orthodox, and Melkite Greek Catholic patriarchs, have cancelled festivities and are only holding religious ceremonies. The ongoing conflict in Gaza, where more than 20,000 people have been killed, has dampened the Christmas spirit in Syria. Damascus, the capital, has a lone market and the Greek Orthodox Mariamite Cathedral has modest decorations. The gloom is further compounded by Syria's economic woes, including fuel shortages and daily power cuts.