On the occasion of Christmas and New Year’s Eve, the Rene Moawad Foundation has launched the Christmas Village 2015 activities, under the slogan “Live Love Zaghrata”.

The village, which was established in the courtyard of St. John the Baptist Cathedral, is home to wooden houses where children gather to take pictures with Santa Claus and celebrate the holidays.

The event’s opening was attended by lawyer Mariel Moawad, the wife of Independence Movement leader Michel Moawad and father John Makhlouf, representing Bishop Paul Abdul Sater along with Zgharta-Ehden mayor Chahwan Ghazal, his wife Randa Jawad Boulos and a number of local officials and civil society groups.

Mariel Moawad said the Christmas Village activities have become an annual tradition and an opportunity to share the joy of the holidays with all people in Zgharta.

“It is our duty to maintain hope and fight for our children,” she said, noting that the event embodies the values ​​of love, tolerance and acceptance of others.