Bethlehem / PNN /
After two years of a forced halt to celebrations, the city of Bethlehem has once again lit its Christmas tree, in a step carrying human and national significance that goes beyond a traditional festive ritual. This year’s joy is intertwined with sorrow, as the Christmas message emerges from the birthplace of Jesus Christ bearing a call for peace and love, amid the suffering of the Palestinian people, particularly in the Gaza Strip.
Bethlehem Municipal Council member Daoud Salahat said the council took its decision in October, following the halt of the war, to proceed with lighting the Christmas tree — a decision that required a lengthy process of preparations and procedures.
Salahat said coordination took place with the Palestinian leadership, which welcomed the idea, especially after Palestinians in Gaza lit a Christmas tree at the entrance of Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital, in a powerful message of hope and steadfastness.
He added that Bethlehem had suspended all celebrations over the past two years, but this year the Christmas Committee began serious preparations, including organising tenders, holding security meetings with relevant agencies, and coordinating with the Ministry of Health, hotels, clergy and churches, in order to ensure the success of the events and restore a sense of joy to Palestinians.
At the heart of the celebrations, the voice of the Church carried a spiritual and humanitarian message, stressing that Christmas in Bethlehem this year cannot be separated from the reality of pain experienced by the Palestinian people, and that joy, despite its presence, remains incomplete as long as the wound is open.
Father Issa Thaljieh, priest of the Greek Orthodox community in Bethlehem, said the city’s message this year is being sent to the entire world — a message of love and peace. He noted that the feeling this year is different with the presence of the Christmas tree, the participation of Palestinians from inside Israel, and the arrival of some tourist delegations who joined the celebration of Christ’s birth and the lighting of the tree in Bethlehem.
“We launch our message from the city of Bethlehem — a message of love and a message of peace to the whole world,” Issa said. “Our feeling today is different with the presence of the tree, our people from the 1948 territories, and some tourists who joined us in the joy of Christ’s birth and the lighting of the tree.”
He added that this year’s Christmas message is incomplete due to deep sorrow over the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza. “Our message today is not complete,” he said. “There is great sadness because of our people in Gaza — because of those who have lost their children and families, families living under captivity, and others living in tents without shelter.”
Issa said prayers are being raised from Bethlehem in particular for Gaza, stressing that true joy will only be complete with the achievement of peace. “We raise our prayers today from Bethlehem for our people in Gaza. There is joy, but it is not complete, and our joy will not be fulfilled until we meet peace and love.”
He also pointed to Bethlehem’s unique status as the birthplace of Jesus Christ and a focal point of global attention. “This holy land is unlike any other,” he said. “The place of Christ’s birth is here in Bethlehem, and for this reason the eyes of the world turn to it to elevate the message of light and peace.”
Issa concluded by stressing that this year’s Christmas message is one of steadfastness and patience. “We need to remain steadfast on this holy land and continue carrying this message to the world,” he said.
With the return of Christmas atmospheres to Bethlehem, workers in the tourism sector are pinning hopes on the season as a first step toward reviving tourism and economic activity after a prolonged period of stagnation.
Daniel Habiba, who works in Bethlehem’s tourism sector, said the city has begun to regain Christmas spirit after a two-year hiatus due to current conditions, adding that this return, though modest, offers hope. He said this year’s atmosphere does not resemble previous years, but remains better than the past two years, expressing hope that this season will mark a return of joy and a gradual revival of tourism to support the city’s economy.
Reflecting public engagement with the season, Yara, a visitor from Ramallah, said she was happy to visit Bethlehem and take part in Christmas celebrations after a two-year absence, noting that people’s longing for these scenes was evident. She said the decorations and festive atmosphere were beautiful and reflected public enthusiasm, but that joy remained mixed with sadness over the suffering of Gaza’s residents. She also noted that, on her way to Bethlehem, the usual checkpoints were absent.
As part of broad participation from across Palestinian cities, delegations from inside Israel also arrived in Bethlehem to celebrate Christmas in the city of Christ’s birth, in a scene reflecting unity of feeling despite geographic separation.
Rola, who came from Nazareth, said choosing to celebrate in Bethlehem carries special symbolism, as a city of peace and the birthplace of the Christ Child. She said celebrations over the past two years had been difficult under prevailing conditions, adding that hope accompanies this return. She expressed hope that peace will prevail across all lands and the world, allowing people to celebrate Christmas again as before, as an occasion carrying a universal message of love and peace.
As the Christmas scene drew to a close, Bethlehem this year appeared as a city balancing joy and pain — between the glow of the tree and the weight of reality. Despite the return of celebrations after two years of absence, the Christmas message remained clear: peace we seek, love we hold on to, and hope that does not fade despite the wounds. From the birthplace of Jesus Christ, Bethlehem sent its call to the world that peace should be the true holiday, and that this holy land must remain a symbol of steadfastness and light, no matter how harsh the circumstances.
