Does Santa Claus Live in Jerusalem ?
Santa Claus is a figure of a kind and likable old man who travels around the Christian world at Christmas on a sleigh drawn by flying reindeer. The role of Santa Claus is to give gifts and make wishes come true to children who have behaved well during the past year. In many countries around the world, adults dress up as Santa Claus to amuse small children, and his character has become a central part of the holiday customs and of popular culture in general.
The tradition of Santa Claus is related to the figure of Saint Nicholas, who served as the bishop of the city of Myra in Asia Minor, present-day Turkey, in the 4th century AD. Saint Nicholas became the patron saint of sailors and of children. According to tradition customary in Northern European countries, he gives gifts to children on his feast day, which is celebrated at the beginning of December. This tradition was brought to the United States by the first Dutch settlers who established New Amsterdam, the original name of New York. It was incorporated into Christmas customs, and spread throughout the entire Christian world. Even in the Soviet Union, which advocated atheism and tried to suppress religion, a folk figure similar to Santa Claus was created called "Grandfather Frost", as part of the Novy God celebrations at the beginning of the new civil year.
A short walk from the New Gate in the Jerusalem wall, at 2 St. Peters Street, stands the house of Issa Kassissieh who is known as the Jerusalem Santa Claus. The Kassissieh family has been living for about 700 years in a stone house from the 14th century, typical of the old city. Issa, whose name means Jesus in Arabic, is an Orthodox Christian who used to be a basketball player and later became a coach. He decided to act as a local Santa Claus for the children of the Christian Quarter, and quickly became a well-known and beloved figure. He even went through courses and training at official Santa Claus schools in the United States.
Issa turned the first floor of his family's house into a small museum, containing a variety of items related to Christmas and Santa Claus such as dolls, decorations, a snow sleigh, and more. One of the amusing exhibits is the image of Santa Claus riding a camel, in accordance with local color. Just before Christmas, many children accompanied by their parents come to visit the house of Issa, the Jerusalem Santa Claus, to take pictures with him, and the lines at the entrance can last for several hours. The house can be visited during the year as well, to observe the special connection between the general Christian tradition and the unique Jerusalem angle.
(Anecdote authored by: עמיר)
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