Syrian Santas and artists bring Christmas spirit to Raqa Syrians dressed as Santa Claus parade through the ruins of Islamic State group's former bastion Raqa, leading a crowd to a Christmas mass in a church destroyed by fighting. "We are saying, 'no to war, yes to life,'" says Farhad Khalil, one of a group of artists who have gathered with their easels to bring some colour back to the dilapidated city.