A ray of hope in the gloom of war: The Palestinian Santa Claus of Jerusalem

·

War is raging and misery has spread like a shroud over the Middle East.

In the setting synonymous with dystopia, a perpetual hopeless drabness that leaves no optimism for anything, the colour red briefly intrudes. The colour of the Palestinian Santa Claus in Jerusalem, who is a small, imperceptible ray of optimism.

These days, despite the war raging in Gaza during the Christmas season, he sent his wishes again. Louder than ever to be heard everywhere and to finally put an end to this war that is causing untold misery.

On a camel instead of a sleigh, Santa Claus sent his wishes from the Old City of Jerusalem.

For 17 years now during Christmas, the Christian by religion, Palestinian former basketball player, Issa Kassissieh has been wearing his red uniform, black boots and disguising himself as the children’s favourite Santa Claus.

jerusalem santa clause

The cave of Isa

“The most important message to send from the heart of the world, Jerusalem, is the message of peace and hope from the Holy Land. I wish that this war will stop,” the Palestinian Santa Claus said.

Under other circumstances, Jerusalem cradles civilisation, the Holy City where three monotheistic religions meet along with worshippers. The war, however, had other plans. Until last year, the streets would glow with red and green lights every December.

Christian pilgrims would arrive in the eastern part of the city, annexed by Israel, to pray in the many churches. People from every corner of the earth would take part, regardless of whether they believed or not. They would come across a figure, mounted on a camel, dressed in Santa Claus’ clothes, wishing Merry Christmas.

jerusalem santa clause

Seven years ago, Issa Kassissieh, 52, a former basketball player, turned the ground floor of his 700-year-old house into a cave.

Here he greets visitors who want to meet the Palestinian Santa Claus, talk to him, have their picture taken with him, drink mulled wine and take a candy on the road. A year ago he welcomed the first visitors with their families who queued up to see him.

“We are dealing with many religions here in Jerusalem, we have Muslims, Christians and Jews. They all come to my house. I open my arms to everyone,” Kassissieh said.

His height – almost six feet tall – doesn’t seem to scare children when they approach him.

8-year-old, Marua, a Palestinian Muslim, expressed her love for him. “I’m not Christian, but I love Santa Claus, and we have a Christmas tree at home.”

jerusalem santa clause

Who is the Palestinian Santa Claus?

A mystery? No, he said.

“My name is Isa Anis Kassissieh, I am from Jerusalem, from the Old City of Jerusalem, my family has lived here for over 900 years. I became a Santa Claus 17 years ago. The story starts from the fact that my father liked to wear the Santa Claus costume for his children (my sister and me),” he explained.

“In 2016 I got a call from the Santa Claus School of New York, they asked me, ‘are you Santa Claus from Jerusalem?’ I said ‘yes’ and they said they wanted to invite me to the Santa Claus School in Denver, Colorado.”

jerusalem santa clause

The offer left him stunned.

“I took a breath and promised God that I want to give my best to the children and the Holy Land,” he said.

“Everyone loves coming here, and there are a lot of families who say, ‘Oh, we don’t have to travel out of the country now. We have Santa Claus in Jerusalem, we have the spirit of Christmas in Jerusalem’.”

What every child asks him, however, is if he will bring home an iPhone. But he promises nothing. He tells them, “let’s pray and if you’re on my good list, you’ll get it.”

Everyone knows him now when he’s riding around on his camel in the old city of Jerusalem.

“It’s important that our kids have fun, but we also want them to know the real story behind Christmas. It’s important to send a message of love and peace from Jerusalem, it’s the heart of the world. When we have peace here, we will have peace around the world,” he said.

jerusalem santa clause

The first steps

17 years ago, Isa discovered an old Santa Claus costume used by his father. He tried it on, it suited him so well that, wearing it, he went to the Jaffa Gate which was nearby. Children gathered and then he realised that “as a child I did not get to have this happiness, so it is time to give it to the children in Jerusalem.”

“Traveling around the world during the Christmas season, I realised how deeply embedded Santa Claus is in the culture of the West, while here, in the place where Christmas began, we only know Santa Claus from TV and movies,” he said.

The following year, Isa dressed up as Santa Claus again, but this time he also rented a camel. Since then, every Christmas, he is riding the camel. Santa Claus makes his rounds of the Old Town and in the afternoons he receives visits from children and their families at the “Santa Claus House.”

jerusalem santa clause

On days close to Christmas, visitors can wait in line for up to two hours to get in. Isa mostly funds these activities himself, but he also accepts donations from believers and organisations around the world.

When he went to Denver, Colorado, he learned to make wooden toys, make Christmas cookies and correctly say the “ho, ho, ho” that a proper Santa exclaims every now and then.

“The sound has to come from the belly,” he clarified.

“To be Santa Claus, everything you do must come from the heart, and the heart must be full of hope, love and peace.”

A few years ago, he enrolled for further studies at the Charles W. Howard Santa Claus School in Michigan. The famous school, which was founded 83 years ago, has trained over 5,000 Santas.

“I was told: “You’re the first Santa Claus from the Middle East and the Holy Land,” Isa emphasised.

jerusalem santa clause

The Greek roots of the Palestinian Santa Claus

Isa earns his living as a basketball coach in West Jerusalem. For 700 years, “Santa’s House” has been the family home of the Kassiyehs, who were the first Christian Orthodox family in East Jerusalem.

“My family came to Jerusalem 900 years ago, but we don’t know exactly where they came from. Some family members claim that we came from Greece. Others believe we came from the Palestinian city of Lydda,” he explained.

jerusalem santa clause

Some centuries back, the Kassiyehs started a tile industry. Many of them decorate the Church of the Resurrection (the Church of the Holy Sepulchre) and other churches in the Holy Land.

Issa has ambitious dreams: he is negotiating with the Jerusalem municipality to organise a Santa Claus Conference, the first in Israel’s history. He intends to invite 50 Santas from all over the world and organise a parade through the streets of the city.

The war spoiled his plans, and as he said over and over again: “the most important message to send is the message of peace and hope from the Holy Land. I wish that this war will stop.”

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

Ignite the Flame: AHEPA Australia champions Greek language at Blakehurst High

The Hellenic spirit was alive on June 13 as AHEPA Australia hosted an evening celebrating Greek language education at Blakehurst High School.

Tradition and youth celebrated at Laconian Federation of NSW event

The Laconian Federation of NSW brought the spirit of tradition and pride in youth together on Sunday, June 15, with a special event.

Greek and Jewish communities unite in Sydney to honour WWII heroines

Hellenic Lyceum of Sydney, in collaboration with the National Council of Jewish Women Australia, held a presentation on Greek WWII heroines.

Hellenic Club of Sydney saddled with $1.6m wedding debt after Adgemis’ pub group collapsed

Hellenic Club of Sydney was left with a $1.6m wedding deposit bill after collapse of its operating partnership with Jon Adgemis’ pub group

Archbishop Makarios of Australia meets with Greece’s Health Minister

His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia met with Greece’s Minister of Health, Adonis Georgiadis, in Athens on Thursday, June 12.

You May Also Like

Melina Mercouri: Greek actress and activist who embodied Hellenic spirit

A temperamental and vibrant character, Melina Mercouri is being remembered this year for her tireless work fighting for Greek culture and heritage.

45th Glenelg Greek Festival: A celebration of Epiphany, culture and heritage

Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia hosted its annual festivities, marking the 45th anniversary of the Epiphany celebrations.

Greek Australian university students flocked to Melbourne for annual NUGAS Gala Ball

On Sunday, September 1, the National Union of Greek Australian Students (NUGAS) hosted its annual Gala Ball at Crown in Melbourne, Victoria.