They said there'd be peace on earth

When you’re constantly surrounded by scores of checkpoints, massive concrete walls and an occupying army, celebrating Christmas in style probably isn’t going to be the central priority for many Bethlehemites. But to theatre actor Raed Hamouri, who leads a small group of his fellow thespians in the ever-growing Santa Claus Project, it’s one way to help people feel, well, normal. Not least in the site of the very first Christmas. 

 

“Both children and adults in Palestine should get to experience the holidays like any other people in the world,” he says, itching his stubbly chin underneath a snow-white acrylic beard. “Not only that, but when the outside media sees what the Santas have to go through just to get from one place to another in the West Bank – endless searches, constant interrogations – for the sole purpose of making people happy, we hope this brings more supporters for the Palestinian cause, for peace.” Hamouri took a few moments from his bell-ringing and flag-waving to tell us about his part-time job in the red suit, and help underline that the occupation doesn’t take a holiday, nor have a festive season.

 

Raed Hamouri: Personally, I’ve been working with the project for more than four years, but the whole initiative started during the second Intifada. A couple of youth workers in Bethlehem wanted to alleviate the horror of death and destruction, so they collected donations from local providers to bring games and such to destitute children. Eventually, they added the appropriate figure to do the gift giving...!

 

RH: Well, it’s impossible to live any kind of “normal” life here. People may get used to it – or just numb to it – but no way can you grow up with it without being scarred. It’s like living the days of your life with a heavy, rusted, grubby chain bolted around your neck. How can you love life and find happiness with such a weight pulling you down?

 

RH: This is supposed to be a time to celebrate peace, but how can you with all the closures and curfews during festival time?

 

RH: I remember once a 5-year-old was so shocked to see me that he just ran away! I asked him why and he answered: “I saw Santa on TV last night, how come you came here so quickly? The real Santa would need days to pass all the checkpoints, you’re fake!” Depressing in a way, but then again extremely logical! It took us hours to convince him that I was Santa.

 

RH: I think we have managed to balance the barbaric affects of the occupation with a bit of normality. It’s far from an easy thing to do, but it has to happen. And when it does – when people can enjoy life again for that little bit of time – it makes the polyester suit and itchy beard well worth it.