Across the Middle East, Christian communities are gearing up for Christmas. Here's a look at how some of the region's ancient communities celebrate the holiday. In Lebanon, Prime Minister Sa'ad Hariri held a tree-decorating event for Lebanese orphans. 
Prime Minister Saad Hariri helps a Lebanse orphan put an ornament on a Chrismtas tree (credit: Mohamad Azakir/ Reuters)In Nazareth, Israeli Arabs made a replica of the nativity scene. 
Israeli Arabs recreate the Nativity scene in Nazareth, December 2017 (Credit: Baz Ratner/ Reuters)In the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Palestinians took part in large parades near the Church of the Nativity. 
A Palestinian marching band participates in Christmas festivites in Bethlehem (credit: Ammar Awad/ Reuters)Iraqi children celebrated Christmas in the capital of Baghdad. Northern Iraqi Christians were able to celebrate Christmas openly for the first time in 4 years in Mosul, after the city was liberated from the Islamic State. 
Iraqi children celebrate Christmas at the Church of the Sacred Heart in Baghdad (Credit: Thaier Al-Sudani/ Reuters)And in Jerusalem, Santa reined supreme - on a camel, of course! 
Issa Kassissieh rides a camel in a Santa costume during the annual Christmas tree distribution in the Old City of Jerusalem (credit: Ammar Awad/ Reuters)Police units escort representatives from the Christian community that made their way from the old city of Jerusalem toward the Bethlehem crossing Sunday.
Prime Minister Saad Hariri helps a Lebanse orphan put an ornament on a Chrismtas tree (credit: Mohamad Azakir/ Reuters)In Nazareth, Israeli Arabs made a replica of the nativity scene. Israeli Arabs recreate the Nativity scene in Nazareth, December 2017 (Credit: Baz Ratner/ Reuters)In the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Palestinians took part in large parades near the Church of the Nativity. A Palestinian marching band participates in Christmas festivites in Bethlehem (credit: Ammar Awad/ Reuters)Iraqi children celebrated Christmas in the capital of Baghdad. Northern Iraqi Christians were able to celebrate Christmas openly for the first time in 4 years in Mosul, after the city was liberated from the Islamic State. Iraqi children celebrate Christmas at the Church of the Sacred Heart in Baghdad (Credit: Thaier Al-Sudani/ Reuters)And in Jerusalem, Santa reined supreme - on a camel, of course! Issa Kassissieh rides a camel in a Santa costume during the annual Christmas tree distribution in the Old City of Jerusalem (credit: Ammar Awad/ Reuters)Police units escort representatives from the Christian community that made their way from the old city of Jerusalem toward the Bethlehem crossing Sunday.
