The kingdom prohibits the public practice of any religion other than Islam and allows no churches or places of worship except for mosques.
Previously, Christmas trees ordered from abroad were seized by customs, as were other religious accouterments such as Buddha statues. But this year, there’s a little more festive cheer in a society whose leadership now allows music, gender mixing and considers fun as a nascent industry, Bloomberg reported.
At a popular restaurant in the center of the Saudi capital, Mariah Carey’s hit played to diners. Determined shoppers can find trees on permanent open display and not hidden in a back room anymore, along with reindeer headbands, Santa hats, and baubles.
Yet as Christmas comes quietly for those who want it, alcohol remains banned despite rumors that it will one day become legal in some parts of the country. It’s only available on the black market at exorbitant prices. But this year there’s plenty of one drink on store shelves that used to be tough to find around the holidays: tonic water.