European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 24, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                By Dalal Saoud United press International fifteen years of sectarian strife is Over at least for now and the sound of gunfire Likely will be replaced by Church Bells this Christmas but Many in War ravaged Beirut will not be in a celebratory mood. Quot a deep feeling of deception among the christians this year overshadows the Joy of Christmas said Youssef Habib a Christian maronite lawyer alluding to the defeat of Christian Leader Gen Michel Aoun on oct. 13 by a joint syrian lebanese Force. Quot Aoun represented Hope for them. His ouster remains the dominant event a Habib said. Quot they Are still under Shock and cannot Swallow the syrian presence in  a. For Many christians Aoun who launched two destructive drives against the syrians a the first in March 1989 and the second 1 0 months later in which 2,500 people died was Quot Lebanon s  his surprising Rise and Quick fall and the subsequent deployment thousands of syrian troops in the Christian areas left his adherents baffled and frustrated. Habib said most Christian families will try with limited Success this year to preserve the Christmas tradition by buying gifts and new clothes for their children but headed Quot How could they enjoy Christmas when they lost at least one of their relatives and when they fear going out to attend Midnight mass Quot. The disintegration of the last of the warring militias has encouraged the City a Christian maronite Bishop Khalil Abi Nader to declare that All the capitals churches will hold Christmas mass at Midnight this year. Previously Christmas mass had been celebrated in the afternoon because of / Security instability during the War years. But to 32-year old Nadine Barakat a Christian resident of Beirut going out during the night to attend the mass would the shooting has stopped women on a Homes be Complete madness. A a a a a Quot a Quot i would not even think about it a Barakat said. Quot who can assure me that while returning Home someone will not Kidnap me or steal my car i will just stay Home. And go to Church the next  but what makes Christmas in Lebanon it Wjk in a  a v a i a up exceptional this year is that Christian and moslem businessmen have joined in reviving a pre War tradition of decorating avenues with colourful Trees and ornaments. Quot we wanted to recall the Good old Days when Beirut looked like a shining Star during Christmas said Salim Deeb a 45-year-old moslem who owns a boutique in fashionable Hamra Street he recalled that i he owners of the shops in this District used to bring in decorators from France to set up Christmas designs joke those on Paris champs Ely sons. Quot this year we will be satisfied with local decorations because of the worsening economic conditions Quot Deeb said. Quot it is just wonderful to see Christmas ornaments instead of pictures of martyrs on the  Thore will be Little shopping too. A High inflation rate and the decline of the. Lebanese Pound in the world currency markets have left Middle and working class citizens penniless. Quot vye never celebrated Christmas during the years of War. Why should it be different this time Quot asked Hayat she mall a 38. Year old Christian maronite housewife. Quot my children know nothing about Christmas. They were born during the War. They Don t even dream of Santa Claus is Emali said As she hugged her son and two daughters in their badly damaged four room House in Beirut s predominantly moslem shiite Bir Al Abed area. For the Shemalie Christma celebrations were just another Burden. Their income is at a subsistence level and a buying a Christmas tree and gifts is a luxury they simply cannot afford. / their shiite neighbors refrained from any show of Celebration. A ,. A. A a Quot Christmas is also our feast but to celebrate it in our hearts Quot said Abu and Nan a bodyguard of the Mentor of iranian a backed Hezbollah sheikh Hussein fac Lallah. / a a. A but other christians determined to leave behind War atrocities and budget tightening insisted on having a festive a Christmas. A a a a Quot a a a. A a Quot we Are crazy enough to spend All our savings just to have the merriest Christmas Quot said Tony Haddad a University teacher. Quot lets enjoy it As Long As peace lasts. Who knows if we will live to celebrate next Christmas Quot by Ralph Joseph United press International a Christmas is not the main festival of the year for the greeks for whom easter has always had far greater significance but the Impact of commercialization has in recent years brought greeks closer to a Celebration of Christ Yenna a literally Quot Christ s  but the tradition of exchanging Christmas cards bearing the message Kato Christ Yenna a Happy Christmas a or Chr Gnia polls a Many years a is fast catching on and greek toyshop like other european no Santa in greek tradition capitals Are awash at christmastide with parents searching for gifts for their children unlike other europeans however greek children do not receive their gifts on Christmas eve but on new years eve a a hence the greeting chronic Polla. Nor does Santa Claus exist in the hellenic tradition although some department stores now feature Santa in the toy floor and the occasional Santa can be seen swinging a Bell on Street Corners. Christmas Trees with flashing coloured lights and other decorations Are also to be seen in almost every Home and the mayors of Athens have introduced. Streets decorated with lights and buntings to convey the spirit of the festival. A although timings May be different much like their counterparts in other regions of Europe children go from door to door in the Days up to Christmas playing. The Trig on Aki Triangle and singing carols. And in keeping with traditions elsewhere in Europe family Christmas lunch is also becoming quite common with Turkey in fashion perhaps followed by a Sweet bread with the words chronic Polla inscribed on the top. A a. But for Many greeks yuletide is time for the. Traditional family afternoon Outing at a Taverna which serves a special menu for Christ Yenna or a family visit to Home villages and islands to spend Christmas. Monday december 24, 1990 the stars and stripes Page 13