On the night of Christmas, the Imam sent a message for all the Christians of the world which the news agencies broadcast.
Beside this message he instructed us to distribute gifts that the brethren had brought from Iran—normally consisting of traditional sweets, pistachios and dried fruits and nuts among the residents of Neuphle le-Château
People within close circle of Imam recalled that they placed gifts carried next to each package, we placed a flower stem before distributing among neighbors who were deeply impressed by Imam’s love and devotion.
In the places we went to, we sensed that many in the West were not familiar with this kindness and love among themselves.
They found it very interesting that the night of the birth of the Prophet of the Christians, a non-Christian Iranian leader was so close to them and felt feel affection for them.
This happened just months before Imam’s historic return to homeland after 15 years of exile and the ensuing victory of the Islamic Revolution in 1979.