Syria: Let It Snow! · Global Voices
Jillian C. York

It's been a whirlwind week of weird weather for much of the Levant, as relieving rains and surprise snows blanket the landscape.  In the Syrian capital, the streets are covered with snow for the first time in years.  Though the Damascus skies occasionally sprinkle snow, rarely does it stick to the ground.  One blogger, 50% Syrian, is thrilled by the development:
For most young Damascenes (20s, early 30s), this is the very first time in their life that they see it snow in Damascus. A report I just read says it’s been 25 years since it last snowed in this beautiful city of spirit and soul. But according to my father-in-law he saw it snow around 50 years ago… and doesn’t remember seeing snow on the streets of the Syrian capital, ever since.
Before settling in this city I most cherish and adore, I have been in and out of Damascus during many seasons, but this is the first time in my 30-something life that I see snow fluff down from the sky, so serenely and beautifully, filling me with hope and love, more than anything else.
Photo by Mustafa Hamido, Aleppous Project
Why so Syria? describes herself as a Mexican-American in Damascus by way of Boston.  For that reason, she was especially surprised to wake up to snow flurries.  The blogger writes:
Ok so Christmas is still a few days away but this morning we woke up to significant flurries in Damascus. What an unexpected and pleasant surprise! As I groggily opened my eyes and looked out the window, for a split second I thought I was still in Boston…
…This city is always full of surprises. Just when you think you’ve got the place figured out, BAM — SNOW! It kind of blows my mind.
Photo by blogger Why So Syria?
Syrian blogger Ayman Ashour unfortunately missed the snowfall.  He quips:
A Syrian satellite television channel shared a beautiful video on YouTube, illustrating the beauty of the Damascene snowfall:
First photo credit: Mostafa Hamido, Aleppous Project