Copts celebrate Christmas on January 7. It is a festive, yet mournful time, as terror attacks against them increase during their holiday season.
Christmas Season Bittersweet for Copts in Cairo
![Coptic Mousa Nazmy plays with his daughter, Anastasia, in his house in Cairo, Egypt, Jan. 6, 2017. “Playing with my daughter is my only happiness in life,” he said. “What I like about Christmas [is] that it’s a holiday, and I can spend more time with her.](https://gdb.voanews.com/44910b6b-564c-4710-b925-87c59788347e_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Coptic Mousa Nazmy plays with his daughter, Anastasia, in his house in Cairo, Egypt, Jan. 6, 2017. “Playing with my daughter is my only happiness in life,” he said. “What I like about Christmas [is] that it’s a holiday, and I can spend more time with her.
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A funeral is held for Ises Faris, who was killed during the blast at the cathedral in Cairo, Egypt, Dec. 25, 2016. Attacks on Copts increase as their Christmas season, celebrated Jan. 7, draws near. (H. Elrasam/VOA)
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Copts guard their church during Christmas prayers in Cairo, Egypt, Jan. 6, 2017. (H. Elrasam/VOA)