For first time, Christmas tree, Santa Claus hats in Riyadh streets

RIYADH, Dec. 25 (YPA) – The US “Wall Street Journal” newspaper has monitored the manifestations of Christmas celebrations in Saudi Arabia for the first time in the history of the Kingdom, after the authorities allowed the erection of the Christmas tree and hanging decorations this year.

As part of the Kingdom’s recently adopted policy of openness, stores in the capital, Riyadh, displayed artificial fir trees, where shoppers can find them along with Santa Claus hats and reindeer head collars.
Restaurants are offering Christmas cakes, especially the Italian “Panettone”, which is usually prepared on New Year’s Day.

Furniture stores also displayed wreaths and red candles, while some hotels designed their interior patios to match the Christmas celebrations, and a large part of them included the Christmas tree.

According to the newspaper, the price of a plastic spruce was $3,000.

Saudi Arabia used to forbid practicing a religion other than Islam in public places, but the Saudi government advisor, Ali Al-Shihabi, announced in the middle of this year that a church would be built in the kingdom, while there was no official denial or confirmation from the authorities.

YPA