TheJakartaPost

Please Update your browser

Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.

Jakarta Post

Racing Santas bring Christmas cheer to Israeli village

Organizers of the annual event in Miilya, a Christian village in the country's north, said 1,200 runners of all ages were taking part, with Jews and Muslims joining in too.

Ronen Zvulun and Ward Awad (Reuters)
Miilya, Israel
Sat, December 22, 2018 Published on Dec. 22, 2018 Published on 2018-12-22T15:05:34+07:00

Change text size

Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone

Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!
Men dressed up as Santa Claus are seen in a street ahead of an annual Men dressed up as Santa Claus are seen in a street ahead of an annual (Reuters/Ronen Zvulun)

C

hristmas festivities swelled the population of an Israeli village on Friday, as crowds of revelers donned Santa costumes to run through its narrow streets while spectators jingled bells to cheer them on.

Organizers of the annual event in Miilya, a Christian village in the country's north, said 1,200 runners of all ages were taking part, with Jews and Muslims joining in too.

Read also: Thousands dressed as Santa Claus race through Madrid for charity

"Sport is one universal language for all sects and groups," said Jeries Abu Hanna, one of the organizers.

"It makes a very beautiful atmosphere... People (also) come from outside the town (to) enrol," said Tarek Tuma, 37, who owns a local coffee house.

Miilya's population is some 3,200, and around two in every 100 Israeli residents are Christians.

Your Opinion Matters

Share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.

Enter at least 30 characters
0 / 30

Thank You

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.

Share options

Quickly share this news with your network—keep everyone informed with just a single click!

Change text size options

Customize your reading experience by adjusting the text size to small, medium, or large—find what’s most comfortable for you.

Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone

Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!

Continue in the app

Get the best experience—faster access, exclusive features, and a seamless way to stay updated.