More gifts to go around in a multi-faith community



The first Christmas gift I remember getting was a "magic stick".

It was thick, made of wood, and a bit crooked. I was six years old when I got it so I don't know what type of wood it was, but I remember that it smelled nice.

Wrapped in a gold paper under the Christmas tree, my name was written on it. Santa Claus, apparently, had dropped it off when he heard I was visiting my family in Poland. "Santa's elves made this special stick for you because you were a good girl this year," my grandmother told me.

Clearly, it had magic powers, so I used to carry it around with all the time. The one trick I remember doing is pointing to a plate, asking for chocolate to appear. Within minutes, chocolate was on its way from the kitchen. What more proof did I need?

Wherever I went in the world, somehow Santa managed to find us on Christmas. Many times my sister and I would try to catch him in the act, setting boobytraps near the Christmas tree.

In Paris one Christmas Eve, my sister and I placed tiny cars all over the floor and even marbles to make Santa slip up. It never worked, although we did notice that some of the cars were moved into a corner and one of them was cracked as if it had been stepped on.

"A ha! So Santa Claus does exist!" was the obvious conclusion.

In many mixed families like mine, with different religions and nationalities, we make it a point to celebrate all of the holidays in the spirit of union and tolerance. An added dividend is that it is great for the children who receive gifts on both Christmas and Eid.

November was a special month full of holidays for Muslims this year, and December is always special for Christians. For residents in the UAE, we get to enjoy both, regardless of religious affiliation.

Growing up in Saudi Arabia, there were never any outward signs of Christmas, with decorations and the Christmas music kept behind closed doors. But here, in a sign of tolerance, I see Christmas trees in many public places. Thankfully, most of them are fake and not one-time sacrifices to the holiday.

Abu Dhabi broke the record this year with the world's most valuable Christmas tree at the Emirates Palace hotel. Its ornaments are beautiful jewels, gold and diamonds worth millions of dirhams. But what is more important than a monetary value is the holiday spirit and spread of good will.

Some of the world's oldest churches can be found in the Middle East. They are common in Lebanon and elsewhere there are some unique examples like the 4th century church in Jubail, Saudi Arabia, and the 7th century Christian monastery on Sir Bani Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. As one Vatican official told me recently, the oldest Christians in the world originated in this region. So why not extend a hand of friendship by joining them to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ?

There is a downside to all of this holiday cheer, however. Those annoyingly repetitive Christmas carols used to drive me crazy when I lived in Canada. And earlier this week, I had some "elves" in my building who were singing seriously out of tune.

I felt like the infamous Scrooge when I opened the door to complain about the noise. Dressed in Santa Claus hats and pointy shoes with bells, these elves were from the Philippines, collecting donations for gifts to be sent back home to their families. OK, I guess the goal was sweet, but I still think they could use some practice. I grew up listening to choirs of angelic voices, so I am a bit picky.

It's true that Christmas has been commercialised and the holiday is marked by kitsch as much as community spirit. Then again, "Santa" always was a commercial figure crafted in the United States as a marketing tool.

But there is a genuine heart based on St Nicholas, patron saint of children. I still miss receiving gifts from kindly old St Nic, even though I was laying traps to catch him.

'Saand Ki Aankh'

Produced by: Reliance Entertainment with Chalk and Cheese Films
Director: Tushar Hiranandani
Cast: Taapsee Pannu, Bhumi Pednekar, Prakash Jha, Vineet Singh
Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Milestones on the road to union

1970

October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar. 

December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.

1971

March 1:  Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.

July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.

July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.

August 6:  The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.

August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.

September 3: Qatar becomes independent.

November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.

November 29:  At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.

November 30: Despite  a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa. 

November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties

December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.

December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.

December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.

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Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa

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