All photos by Navin Sam
Thousands of people in Qatar stayed up late and braved the traffic to attend midnight services at the church complex on Christmas Eve.
Many more are expected to attend services today, as the country’s hundreds of thousands of Christians look forward to a long weekend to celebrate the holiday.
Though security was tight at the entrance as always, church-goers report an upbeat mood, with singing, bake sales and other activities being held inside the massive complex.
Qatar’s church complex opened in 2008 – the country’s first church in 14 centuries – with the launch of the Catholic Church of Our Lady of the Rosary.
The grounds have expanded significantly to include several Christian denominations since then, including the Anglican church and Greek Orthodox church. Services are also held at the complex for Evangelical, Pentecostal and Protestants, among others.
Things to do
More information about Christmas services at the complex can be found here. For those looking to go out, almost all shops and malls will be open today, as Christmas is not an official holiday in Qatar.
And with schools out and so many people staying home to celebrate with family, traffic appears to be better than ever:
Best part about Christmas in Qatar? Very little traffic on the way to the office. #dohatraffic
— Jono Haysom (@JonoH) December 25, 2014
For those who do wish to do something special, several of the nation’s hotels are marking today with brunches and dinners. Marhaba, Time Out Doha both have helpful guides on the subject.
Are you celebrating Christmas today? What are your plans?
