(11 Dec 2018) LEADIN
The Christmas spirit has returned to the Syrian capital, after seven years of a devastating civil war.
The streets of Damascus are decorated with bright lights and local residents are grateful for the calm.
STORYLINE
Christmas lights and the holiday spirit.
It's hard to believe that Syria's civil war was until recently playing out in these streets.
As President Bashar Assad's forces have recaptured rebel-held areas in the war-torn country, calm has returned in the Syrian capital.
"The holidays are better now that the war and crisis is over. The people are calmer, they are happier, they are going out. There's the holiday cheer. Everyone's made up and going out relaxed. There are no more rockets. Before, the holiday was very difficult and there were rockets, and people were scared. But now people are relaxed and thank God the situation is excellent," says local resident Fadi Issa.
Some of Damascus' Christian neighbourhoods were the target of frequent shelling by rebels, particularly in the eastern suburbs known as eastern Ghouta.
In April, government forces captured eastern Ghouta and since then violence dropped sharply in Damascus.
This year shops and streets in Damascus are decorated with colourful lights and figures of Santa Claus.
In markets spread across Damascus, people are doing their Christmas shopping.
"We spent 8 years in war, we were scared, there was no security at all. The holiday mood was incomplete. Now that we have stability and peace, people are going out, the holiday cheer has returned, the people are happy that there is security across the country," says local resident Karsia Helal.
Syrian Christians made up some 10 percent of Syria's pre-war population of around 20 million.
Many left for Europe when war broke out in 2011.
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