By Taghreed Saadeh
This year, the city of Bethlehem celebrated Christmas with the lighting of the giant Christmas tree in Manger Square, after a two-year pause due to the war in Gaza. The event reflects the Palestinian community’s view of the occasion not merely as a Christian religious holiday, but as a national event shared by both Muslims and Christians.
The lighting of the Bethlehem Christmas tree is one of the city’s most prominent annual events, officially marking the start of the holiday season in the birthplace of Jesus Christ and attracting thousands of visitors from around the world.
Under the theme, “Arise, shine, for your light has come,” taken from the Book of Isaiah (60:1), the tree-lighting ceremony began with the arrival of the official procession, followed by the announcement of the start of the festivities. The Palestinian Scout movement performed national musical pieces, followed by a moment of silence in memory of Palestine’s martyrs.
These celebrations reflect the Palestinians’ national identity and their ability to preserve their cultural and religious heritage, despite ongoing challenges imposed by the Israeli occupation, which affect the country economically, politically, and socially.
Preparations for the Christmas season began weeks in advance, including the installation of the Christmas tree and the nativity scene, decorating streets and shops with lights and traditional ornaments, and setting up markets offering handmade crafts, local art, olive wood carvings, and traditional gifts, elements that are an important part of Palestine’s generational cultural heritage.
The “Salt of the Earth” Scouts and Guides participated with musical and scouting performances, adding joy and a communal spirit to the celebrations.
The festivities are not limited to Bethlehem alone; they extend to numerous Palestinian towns and villages such as Jerusalem, Nazareth, Ramallah, Hebron, Jenin, Jericho, and Gaza, where Christmas masses are held, trees are erected, and streets and squares are illuminated.
Palestine is home to approximately 1,500 churches, ranging from historic cathedrals to small local chapels, including the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, and churches in Nazareth, Ramallah, Jenin, Hebron, and Gaza. These include Catholic, Latin, Orthodox, Maronite, and Evangelical churches, making them important religious and spiritual centers for Palestinians.
The Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem include religious services, followed by a procession to Manger Square for the lighting of the tree and nativity scene, attended by local officials, diplomats, visitors, and Palestinian Muslims and Christians, sending a message of solidarity and national unity. After a two-year pause due to the war in Gaza, the return of these celebrations confirms the Palestinians’ resilience and their commitment to preserving their cultural and spiritual heritage.
In this context, the Bethlehem Municipality issued an official statement, noting that the return of the celebrations comes after difficult years, starting with the COVID-19 pandemic and followed by wars threatening the presence of Palestinians on their land. The statement read: “Today, we light the Christmas tree. The light will prevail despite many wounds. Bethlehem is safe and will remain open to welcome everyone.”
The municipality explained that the decision to resume celebrations was made with the approval of the Palestinian leadership and the Higher Council of Churches, receiving wide public, political, and religious support after two years of silence due to the situation in Gaza and the West Bank. Reports also indicated that Christians from Gaza were unable to participate this year due to security restrictions and the occupation, overshadowing the participation of Palestinians from inside and outside the country.
During the ceremony, Bethlehem Mayor Maher Qana’ati said that the city of the Nativity, which sent the message of peace more than two thousand years ago, continues to carry its original message despite the wounds. He added that the lighting of the Christmas tree this year represents hope, determination, and a message that Bethlehem will remain a beacon of love and human dignity.
Ramzi Khoury, member of the PLO Executive Committee and Chairman of the Supreme Presidential Committee for Church Affairs, speaking on behalf of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, said that the lighting of the tree this year carries a special significance and reaffirms the Palestinian people’s right to live freely and with dignity on their land.
Khoury added: “The birth of Jesus Christ is a constant birth of hope amid suffering, a message that light will always overcome darkness, no matter how severe the hardships. Despite wounds, blockades, and aggression, the Palestinian people continue to uphold a message of just peace, protect their national dignity, and insist on their right to freedom and independence.”
He emphasized that this year’s Christmas tree lighting coincides with the hearts of Palestinians in Gaza, and the souls of the martyrs among children, women, and the elderly, amid ongoing attacks in Gaza, continuous violations in the West Bank, including Jerusalem, and attempts to erase the national identity. He stressed that the tree lighting in Bethlehem is not just a celebration, but a declaration of national unity, bringing together churches, institutions, and all segments of society around a single message.
The celebrations also help revive Bethlehem’s economy, as the city heavily relies on religious tourism as a major source of annual income. Markets and hotels witness a surge in activity during the Christmas season, which also serves as an opportunity to promote traditional crafts and local products such as olive wood carvings, handmade goods, and heritage gifts.
Symbolically, Christmas in Palestine carries both national and social significance, with Muslims and Christians sharing the cultural and spiritual experience, emphasizing unity and social cohesion. The celebrations demonstrate the Palestinians’ ability to turn religious occasions into symbols of hope, peace, and freedom, highlighting their civilizational and historical role, and reflecting the resilience of Palestinian identity over time despite challenges such as war in Gaza, blockades, and restrictions on movement within the West Bank and beyond.
Patriarch Atallah Hanna, Archbishop of Sebastia for the Greek Orthodox Church, wrote on his Facebook page: “A people who continue to decorate their cities and celebrate their holidays know exactly what resilience means. For us, joy is not a luxury or a fleeting occasion, but an act of will, a steadfast stance against everything that tries to break our spirit.”
He added, “When the Christmas tree is erected in Bethlehem, when the church bells ring in Jerusalem, and when Nazareth sparkles with colors, it is not just a celebration, but a clear declaration that this land can still produce beauty, and its people are still capable of loving, giving, and celebrating despite everything. Our holidays remain a testament to the strength of the spirit, a proof that a people who love joy and practice it in the heart of adversity are a people whose light can never be extinguished, no matter how fierce the storms.”
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