Those looking to grab some Christmas cheer should be aware that only those Christians with Old City residency are eligible to receive a tree.
By YVETTE J. DEANEUpdated: DECEMBER 18, 2018 05:01A CHRISTMAS TREE stands at Mar Elias Church for the Christmas-Suta festival (photo credit: YVETTE J. DEANE)
Christmas will come early for some residents, including Christians in Jerusalem’s Old City who can take home free Christmas trees from the Jerusalem Municipality on Thursday at the Old City’s Jaffa Gate.The municipality will distribute 250 trees, 100 more than last year, on a first-come-first serve basis between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m.“The mayor will greet everyone and wish everyone a Happy New Year and Merry Christmas,” the Jerusalem Municipality’s spokesperson told The Jerusalem Post.The Municipality’s Christmas tree program has been an annual tradition, but when asked when the tradition started, the spokesperson could not remember, but said “It’s been going on for many years.”KKL-JNF has a similar program they have been running for the past three years. In 2018, they sold trees on December 13 at the Shfaram Tree Nursery, in Northern Israel, for NIS 80 each.“Around 200 are sold each year,” said Hail Hassoun, who works with KKL-JNF.The Municipality’s Christmas tree distribution is part of the city’s comprehensive plans to celebrate the holidays with its Christian residents. Lights will be hung in the Old City, Beit Hanina, and the main pilgrimage areas such as Mar-Elias Road and Hebron Road.Those looking to grab some arboreal Christmas cheer should be aware that only those Christians with Old City residency are eligible to receive a tree. IDs will be checked.The city will also dispatch extra cleaning and landscaping crews to clean up near churches.Mayor Moshe Lion will lead an annual tour of churches in Jerusalem to celebrate the holiday season.Christmas is also coming early for those receiving benefits from the state, as Minister of Labor and Social Services Haim Katz (Likud) and National Insurance Institute director-general Meir Spiegler decided to advance Christmas Day payments.The payments will be given on December 23 instead of the original date of December 28.Those who benefit from the payments are senior citizen, widows, orphans, those with disabilities, those receiving alimony and those who were injured at work.
