Christmas Gains Traction in Iran Despite Official Disfavor...

In the heart of Tehran, amidst the hustle and bustle of a typical winter, a curious and subtle transformation has unfolded in recent years. The celebration of Christmas, a holiday deeply rooted in Christian traditions, has gradually found a place in the lives of many Iranians, despite the official disfavor expressed by the country’s clerical authorities. What was once a modest observance by the small Christian minority has now blossomed into a widespread, albeit unofficial, phenomenon embraced by Muslims and non-Christians alike.

Christmas celebrations in Iran, often characterized by the sale of trees, decorations, and the familiar red-clad figures of Santa Claus, have become increasingly visible, particularly in urban centers like Tehran, Isfahan, and Tabriz. Over the past two decades, this festive spirit has begun to seep into mainstream Iranian culture, appearing not just in the homes of the few Christians in the country, but also in the shops, cafés, and streets frequented by the Muslim majority.

The Growing Popularity of Christmas

Social media is awash with images of Iranians participating in Christmas celebrations, from buying Christmas trees to snapping photos in front of stores adorned with festive decorations. Videos from Tehran’s Mirza-ye Shirazi Street, a historically Armenian neighborhood, show crowds of young people—many of whom are Muslims—dancing, singing, and enjoying the holiday spirit. One particularly notable clip from December 25, 2023, captured a large crowd celebrating Christmas night near an Armenian church, where young, unveiled women could be seen joining in the festivities—a notable sign of the shifting cultural landscape.

Shops, many of them selling Chinese-imported Christmas accessories, have become hotspots for these celebrations, with reports indicating that the majority of customers purchasing Christmas trees and decorations are Muslims. This surge in interest has created a strange dichotomy—one where public displays of Christmas joy exist alongside official resistance, all set against the backdrop of a deeply conservative religious and political climate.

Clerical Opposition to Christmas Celebrations

Despite the growing popularity of Christmas in Iranian society, the country’s clerical establishment has not been silent in its disapproval. Senior religious leaders have consistently voiced opposition to the celebration of Christmas, arguing that it promotes a "non-Islamic" culture. In 2014, Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem-Shirazi, a prominent figure in Iran’s Shi'ite theocracy, ruled that Christmas celebrations are not permissible unless they are deemed "necessary." He argued that such activities could undermine familial relationships and friendships, particularly between Muslims and Christians.

For many hardline clerics, the rise of Christmas celebrations is viewed through the lens of a broader cultural battle. In their eyes, the increasing visibility of Western holidays like Christmas represents a threat to the Islamic values that the regime seeks to uphold. As the government pushes for greater observance of Shi'ite mourning rituals, such as Ashura and Arbaeen, the celebration of joyous events like Christmas is often regarded as a rebellion against the culture of piety and solemnity.

Nevertheless, the celebration of Christmas has found its way into Iranian society, particularly in the shopping districts of Tehran, Isfahan, and Tabriz. For many Iranians, Christmas has become more about the joy and community associated with the holiday than its religious origins. This shift is particularly evident in the way that Christmas is celebrated by Muslims, many of whom have embraced the festive spirit without necessarily subscribing to the religious aspects of the holiday.

A Complex Relationship with Religion and Identity

The celebration of Christmas in Iran is not just about the rise of a Western holiday, but also about the complex relationship Iranians have with religion and identity. While Iran’s Christian minority—primarily Armenians and Assyro-Chaldeans—celebrates Christmas as a religious observance, many Iranians of the Muslim faith have co-opted the holiday’s secular aspects. This is particularly evident in the way that shopping districts and public spaces are transformed into Christmas wonderlands, with Christmas trees, lights, and music creating a festive atmosphere that transcends religious boundaries.

Iranians have become increasingly open to the idea of Christianity, with reports suggesting a rise in the number of Muslim converts to Christianity in recent years. While official statistics are difficult to obtain, some reports indicate that Iran has one of the fastest-growing Christian populations in the world, particularly among young people. Many converts choose to worship in private, underground house churches, where they can practice their faith away from the prying eyes of the authorities.

However, the government remains highly sensitive to the issue of religious conversion, with those found guilty of converting from Islam facing the possibility of severe punishment, including imprisonment and even death. Despite these risks, Iran’s Christian population has managed to maintain a degree of freedom to worship, with the government recognizing Christianity, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism as legitimate minority religions. These groups are permitted to practice their faith and have representatives in the Iranian parliament.

Yet, despite the government’s relatively lenient stance toward the Christian minority, the celebration of Christmas remains a contentious issue. Iran’s clerics view the widespread embrace of the holiday by Muslims as a threat to the Islamic identity of the nation. As a result, public displays of Christmas cheer are often met with official disapproval and occasional crackdowns.

A Response to Official Repression

Many analysts and cultural observers suggest that the rising popularity of Christmas celebrations in Iran may be, in part, a reaction to the government’s efforts to suppress happy and celebratory occasions in favor of somber religious rituals. In a country where the public celebration of joyous holidays like Nowruz (Persian New Year) and Yalda (Winter Solstice) is often overshadowed by state-sponsored mourning events, Christmas has emerged as a symbol of personal freedom and joy.

Philosopher and university professor Bijan Abdolkarimi, in a 2020 interview, suggested that the celebration of Christmas and other Western holidays represents a pushback against the dominant Shi'ite culture promoted by the Iranian regime. “What is important to people is life and happiness. The celebration of Christmas and other Western holidays is a reaction to the traditional (Shi'ite) culture,” Abdolkarimi said.

For many Iranians, the growing popularity of Christmas is not a religious statement but a desire for joy and normalcy in a society that has long been defined by political and religious repression. An anonymous user on social media summed up the sentiment: “Is it wrong for us to have an excuse to be joyous when the rest of the world is being joyous? They keep mocking and saying we are not Christians. Forget about religion and just be happy.”

A Cultural Shift in the Making

While the government’s disapproval of Christmas celebrations remains a significant obstacle, it is clear that a cultural shift is underway in Iran. The holiday season has become a time for Iranians to express a collective yearning for happiness and celebration, even if it means embracing aspects of a foreign holiday. The spread of Christmas spirit—particularly among young people—is a sign of a broader cultural change in Iran, where religion, politics, and identity are constantly evolving.

In places like Mirza-ye Shirazi Street in Tehran, where the holiday spirit is palpable and the decorations are as festive as any in the West, Christmas has become a cultural phenomenon that transcends religious lines. While the government and hardline clerics may try to suppress the celebrations, they are, at least for now, finding it difficult to stifle the growing desire for joy and freedom among the Iranian people. As long as the holiday season continues to inspire hope and happiness, it is likely that the Christmas spirit will continue to gain traction, even in a country where it remains officially frowned upon.