We can't have midnight mass like before - but that does not mean we can't have Christmas," she [Sayta Tohma, an Assyrian Christian in Baghdad] told her three young children.

For nearly three generations, Tohma's family traditionally attended midnight mass at the Baghdad church on 52nd Street in eastern Baghdad.

"My family and my husband's family would all meet in the church at night and listen to Christmas songs and prayers until after midnight."

This year, because of rapidly deteriorating security in the country, Tohma's family will not be attending mass or any other Christmas celebrations outside their home.

Since the war in 2003, Iraq's Christians, who make up between 3 - 5% of the population, have been feeling the pressures of religious extremism in the predominantly Islamic country. 

Mixed neighbourhoods

Tohma's family lives in the upper middle class Zayouna neighbourhood in eastern Baghdad, surrounded by both Christian and Muslim neighbours.

"Abu Mohammed lives on the right side, and Abu Ban's family live on the left side. Abu Mohammed is a Muslim and Abu Ban is a Chaldean Catholic - we share Christmas with both of them."