TURKEY: Mor Zoxe visits Midyat, Hah, Bsorino, and Mzizah. Syriac Women’s Association holds Christmas celebrations for children in Tur ‘Abdin

TUR ‘ABDIN, Turkey — The Syriac Women’s Association (SURKADIM) held several Christmas events for children in Midyat and villages in the Syriac homeland of Tur ‘Abdin, southeast Turkey, over the weekend. The main celebration was held in Midyat with smaller ones in neighboring villages.

On Sunday, dozens of Syriac children, along with their parents, gathered for the main event that took place at the community hall of the Federation of Syriac Associations in Turkey (Süryani Dernekler Federasyonu, SÜDEF) in Midyat. Dozens of Children from Midyat, ‘Ain Wardo (Turkish: Gülgöze), and Mzizah (Turkish: Doğançay) participated in the festive activities.

In the Syriac villages of Arkah, Gundeke, Hah, Bsorino, and Midin children gathered with their families and received gifts from Santa Claus, or Mor Zoxe as he is called in the Syriac language. Joyful songs and hymns were recited during the celebrations to express the meaning of the upcoming nativity feast.