A symbolic return to traditions in the Holy Land
Thousands of people converged on Manger Square in Bethlehem on the eve of Nativity, in a collective event that sought to revive the festive spirit after a prolonged period of conflict. The iconic Christmas tree, absent during the years of the war between Israel and Hamas, was reinstalled, marking a symbolic turning point. The town, revered as the birthplace of Jesus Christ, had suppressed its public celebrations the previous two years. At that time, the central square featured a Nativity scene surrounded by debris and barbed wire, an artistic installation that served as a powerful denunciation and tribute to the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.
The beginning of this year’s ceremonies was presided over by Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the highest Catholic authority in the Holy Land, during the traditional procession from Jerusalem. In his speech, he called for a “Christmas full of light“. Arriving at the epicenter of the celebrations, Pizzaballa conveyed the greetings of the small and battered Christian community of Gaza, where he had celebrated a vigil mass the previous Sunday. There, witnessing the devastation, he also perceived a firm will to reconstruction and resilience. “We, all together, decided to be the light, and the light of Bethlehem is the light of the world“, he proclaimed before a crowd made up of faithful Christians and Muslims.
The contrast between the holiday and a critical economic reality
Despite the atmosphere of rejoicing, the socioeconomic impact of the conflict in the West Bank, territory under Israeli occupation, remains severe. In Bethlehem, according to local government data, approximately 80% of its residents, a Muslim majority, depend directly or indirectly on the tourism and pilgrimage industry. The vast majority of those attending the celebrations were local residents, with a still very limited presence of international visitors. However, some residents were beginning to see signs of change as the flow of tourists returns gradually and cautiously.
“Today is a day of joy, a day of hope, the beginning of the return to normal life here,” said Georgette Jackaman, resident and tour guide of the city. She and her husband, Michael, also a guide, belong to Christian families with generational roots in Bethlehem. For their two young children, this marked the first full Christmas celebration they have experienced. During the most critical period of the conflict, the Jackaman family channeled its efforts towards the creation of a digital portal to market Palestinian crafts, an initiative to sustain other professionals in the sector who had lost their livelihood. Unemployment in the city rose from 14% to a shocking 65%, as revealed by the mayor, Maher Nicola Canawati, in early December.
The visit of Mona Riewer, a tourist from France, encapsulates this timid return. Despite warnings about the volatile situation, he decided to travel to understand first-hand the Palestinian reality. “You can feel that people have gone through a very difficult time,” he said, adding that his experience in Bethlehem allowed him to deeply appreciate the meaning of the holiday: “Christmas is like hope in very dark situations.”
Community resilience and persistent challenges
Although a ceasefire has been in effect in Gaza since October, tensions in the West Bank remain high. The Israeli army continues to carry out raids in what it defines as a campaign against militant groups. At the same time, attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinian civilians have reached record levels. This context accelerates a worrying trend: emigration. Some 4,000 people have left Bethlehem in search of job opportunities, according to the mayor. This phenomenon particularly affects the Christian population, which already represents less than 2% of residents in the West Bank.
A powerful symbol of the recovery of traditions was the parade of scout bands. Fadi Zoughbi, a former tourist logistics manager, recounted his children’s excitement at seeing them march with music again, after two years of silent protests. These groups, with their Palestinian flags and tartan-decorated bagpipes, represent cities across the region. For Irene Kirmiz, a native of Bethlehem, the parade is an essential tradition, although now marred by the logistics of the occupation: her family, to attend from Ramallah, had to avoid Israeli checkpoints for more than three hours, a journey that previously took 40 minutes. “It’s very emotional to see people trying to recover, trying to celebrate peace and love,” he concluded.
This festive resurgence in Bethlehem is part of a broader mosaic of religious resilience in the region, from the return of the Christmas parade in Nazareth to masses at a Greek Orthodox church on the outskirts of Damascus, Syria, the scene of a deadly suicide attack in June. The celebration, therefore, transcends the merely festive to become an act of community firmness and a call to hope in the midst of adversity.
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