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Iraq: Christmas to be annually recognised as a public holiday
Christmas in officially recognised as an official, annual holiday in Iraq, just months before Pope Francis is due to visit the country on his Apostolic Journey.
By Vatican News staff writer
Christmas will be different from now on in Iraq. This year, not only are the country’s Christians awaiting Pope Francis as his Apostolic Jounrney – set for March – draws closer, but now, for the first time ever, Christmas will be an official and fixed holiday.
A history of Christmas in Iraq
The Iraqi government had already declared Christmas a one-time holiday in 2008, but in subsequent years this provision was not officially renewed at the national level, being applied in recent years only in the Province of Kirkuk.