In Iraq, the people conduct ceremonies in the courtyards of their homes on the day of Christmas Eve. These ceremonies are unusual in nature. In the family, one of the children recites the 'Nativity story' from the Bible, which is written in Arabic. When the story is being recited, the other family members would hold candles in their hands. Once the story is over, a bonfire would be lit in one corner of the house by the members of the family. Dried thorns are used in order to light the bonfire.
According to the Iraqi people, they can predict the future of their household in the coming year by just watching the way the fire burns in the bonfire. For them, if the dried thorns burn to ashes, the family will be blessed with good fortune. A psalm is sung, while the fire continues to burn. As the fire burns out and the thorns reduce to ashes, the members of the family leap over the ashes three times and complete the ceremony by making wishes towards the end.
- MICHELLE LÓPEZ
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