On the evening of Saturday 21 December 2024, the Fourth Ankawa Christmas Festival’s activities were launched at the Social Academic Centre’s gardens in Ankawa district, amid an official presence from the Kurdistan Regional Government and a large crowd.
The opening ceremony was attended by an official delegation from the Regional government, including the Prime Minister’s representative, Endowments and Religious Affairs Minister Pshtiwan Sadiq, Transport and Communications Minister Anu Jawhar Abdoka, Erbil Governor Omed Khoshnaw, the Regional government’s official spokesman Peshwa Hawrami, in addition to venerable bishops, including Chaldean Catholic Archbishop of Erbil Mar Bashar Matti Warda, Pastor of the Syriac Catholic Diocese of Adiabene in Erbil Mar Nathanael Nizar Ajam, Pastor of the Syriac Orthodox Diocese of Mosul, Kirkuk and the Iraqi Kurdistan Region Mar Nicodemus Daoud Matti Sharaf, and Assyrian Church of the East Patriarchal representative Fr. Martin Nabil.
The festival began its activities with a grand ceremony that included Christmas carols performed by Lebanese artist and singer Layal Nehme, with the participation of the Ankawa Chaldean Catholic children’s choir, which introduced the audience to the cold Christmas atmosphere and spiritual hymns that nourish the soul. These were followed with a speech by the Directorate, delivered by its general director Kaldo Ramzi Oghanna, in which he confirmed that: “Ankawa has become the embrace that brings together our people’s artistic and cultural heritage, and its position is great among that of other cities for the artistic and cultural creativity it has presented,” noting that, “the festival is a challenge for Ankawa’s youth to present the most beautiful image of their city in its historical and cultural position.”
Oghanna explained that: “The festival supports handicrafts presented by the youth, as it supports 46 young men and women in presenting their handicrafts, in addition to supporting 15 young men in starting their small projects,” indicating that this is the ultimate goal of the festival.
After that, Transport and Communications Minister Anu Jawhar Abduka delivered his speech, in which he stressed the ninth cabinet’s approach in supporting the cultural and artistic activities of the Region’s national components, pointing out that the Kurdistan Region is an oasis of peaceful coexistence in Iraq and the region.
The festival’s first day included honouring the photography competition’s first place winner, photographer Diyar Sarkis, in addition to the second place winner, photographer Vivian Hanna, as well as honouring the festival’s supporting and sponsoring parties with appreciation awards.
The festival’s first day continued its activities with a tour of the open bazaar, in addition to continuing its activities until midnight, with artistic, musical, singing and other heritage segments, with the participation of artists Layal Nema, Oneil Raihana, Ali Diaa, and Samir Beauty (who came from Germany). In addition, members of the Syriac Arts Ensemble, affiliated with the Directorate, participated in presenting shows and performing heritage and popular dances.
It is worth mentioning that the Ankawa Christmas Festival is the largest Christmas festival held annually for Christians in Ankawa and our people’s various regions, attracting thousands of Christians from within the country, as well as from the diaspora in Europe, Australia and America. It is organised under the General Directorate of Syriac Culture and Arts’ auspices, and with the participation of a number of youth and social civil society organisations. This year, it will continue for 12 days during the Christmas and New Year holidays.
