With the beautiful Christmas holiday soon approaching, the festive spirit is felt across Jordan’s capital of Amman as twinkling lights, stunning decorations, tasty treats, and Christmas music have filled the vibrant city.
The Christmas season in Jordan is not only celebrated by local Christians but many Muslim Jordanians also enjoy celebrating the special holiday. From attending annual Christmas markets and decorating gingerbread houses to participating in Christmas carols and lighting up Christmas trees, the month of December is filled with joy, unity, and cheerful moments for many locals and foreigners alike.
Here are some of our favorite Christmas activities in Jordan this year.
Attending a Christmas Concert
The Jordanian community is home to incredible choir groups and the Mosaica Singers, an award-winning local group is renowned for its concerts, especially during the Christmas season. This year, Mosaica held a concert, “Carols and Cheer,” where they performed Christmas carols at Kan Zaman, an entertainment venue and restaurant in Amman.
(Photo credit: Mosaica Instagram Account)
Visiting Jesus Christ's Baptism Site and See the Beautiful Christmas Tree
This year, a Christmas tree lighting ceremony took place at the Baptism Site of Jesus Christ at Bethany Beyond the Jordan in the presence of Jordan's Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Lina Annab. Visiting the biblical spot, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage site, during the Christmas season, is surely a unique experience.
(Photo credit: Visit Jordan)
Going to the Abdali Christmas Market
The Boulevard in Abdali, Amman’s downtown pedestrian area that features shops, restaurants, cafes, and residences, is hosting a beautiful three-week Christmas market this year that offers live entertainment, carnival games, a food market, an ice skating ring, and a bazaar filled with local products that make for the perfect Christmas gift. Jordanian events and entertainment company, 165 Entertainment, organized the market this year.
For other exciting upcoming cultural events happening in Jordan, go to Calendar.jo, Jordan's official calendar of events.
(Video credit: Calendar.jo Instagram Account)
Strolling Through Swefieh Village
This year, Amman's outdoor urban destination, Swefieh Village, is decorated with festive lights, a beautiful Christmas tree, and it is hosting a Christmas Gift Market on December 13-14 and December 20-21, making it the ideal place to walk around, enjoy the Christmas vibes, and do some shopping.
Indulging in Delicious Christmas Desserts
For the entire festive season, many of Amman’s bakeries, such as the Cakery, the Cake Shop, and Halas Treats fill their shops with delicious Christmas cookies, cakes, and desserts. A must-try cake that is available on its menu this December is Halas Treats' Christmas Vintage cake.
(Photo credit: Halas Treats Website)