Lebanese attend Christmas tree lightening ceremony

STORY: Lebanese attend Christmas tree lightening ceremony DATELINE: Dec. 10, 2022 LENGTH: 00:03:09 LOCATION: Beirut CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Christmas activities 2. SOUNDBITE (Arabic): MICHEL MOUAWAD, MP 3. various of Christmas activities STORYLINE: Hundreds of people on Thursday night gathered in Achrafieh, one of Beirut's oldest and most charming districts, to celebrate the lightening of the Christmas tree, an event that takes place every year in preparation for Christmas Eve. Families had the opportunity to watch the marvelous Christmas tree and Santa Claus who passed by to salute the audience, creating a happy atmosphere among people. A band played Christmas music and little girls sang Christmas songs in a joyful ambience, motivating the audience to dance. The ceremony was attended by several Lebanese officials including Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi and MP Michel Mouawad who described the scene as one reflecting the resistance and resilience of the Lebanese population amid the c