Figure 1.--A reader in Qatar writes, "Here is a picture I took the other day. It was December 23, 2009. I was at a hotel waiting for friends. A choir made up of hotel staff sang Christmas songs and carols. The children were delighted. As you can see the children sat on the steps to listen to the music. When the recital finished the children were visited by Santa. They were over joyed and thought this a wonderful time. Parents and other hotel guests enjoyed the festive spirit also. The Qatar guests sat and sipped coffee or tea and talked with their friends." I think the Choir and Santa were hotel staff who were Christian (Philipino nationals). The guests from Qatar did not object or visit other areas of the hotel away from the Christmas activities.

Qatar was for many years a backwater pf the Middle East and a very conservative society. Islam is of course the dominant religion. Chritians were tolerated, althouh this varied over time. And the celebration of Christmas if not outright banned, was at times actively discouraged. Chritians learned as with other demobstrations of Chritian faith to be discrete. Images of Christmas in foreign newspapers were actually blacked out. Christmas songs were discouraged, both secular ad rekligious songs. One reports suggests that the erm "Merry Christmas" was banned on QBS after Muslims were killed in Lebanon by Christians which caused an anti-Christian backlash (1983). Qatar has gradually become more modern and some Qataris more tolerant. A Muslim scholar concluded that it was acceptable for Muslims to celebrate Christmas in a non-religious sense (2007). This is by no means a universally accepted opinion. Another cleric writing in a local paper thought Muslim's should not celebtrate the festive holiday as it takes them away from Islamic teaching. Christmas in not a major celebration in Qatar, but there are celebrations. A few Qataris decorate their houses and give presents. Qatari authorities now allow Christmas to be celebrated quietly. There are also Hindus and Christians, mostly foreigners working in the Kingdom. With modernization and migration of people from abroad into the Kihgdom, Christmas has grown in acceptance. The small number of Qatari Christians celebrate the Christmas, but without much public display. Tourists can see Christmas celebrations in areas where Christians are congregated. There, houses, roads and hotels may be decorated and illuminated in a variety of ways, including Christmas trees and colored lights. Muslim often decorate their homes with lights to celebrate marrages and ther family happenings so colored lights are readily available among Muslim families. Christmas dinner parties are popular. Gifts are exchanged. Some malls now put up Christmas trees and oher decorations.

Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Return to the Main Indian page]
[Introduction] [Activities] [Biographies] [Chronology] [Clothing styles] [Countries]
[Bibliographies] [Contributions] [FAQs] [Glossaries] [Images] [Links] [Registration] [Tools]
[Boys' Clothing Home]

Created: 2:47 AM 12/29/2008
Last updated: 2:47 AM 12/29/2008