BETHLEHEM, OCCUPIED WEST BANK—After two years of somber silence and canceled celebrations, the traditional birthplace of Jesus Christ came alive on Saturday night as the massive Christmas tree in Manger Square was illuminated. The lighting ceremony, attended by thousands, marked the city’s cautious return to public festivity and served as a powerful, symbolic act of resilience and hope for Palestinians suffering the lingering effects of the Gaza war.
The 20-meter tree, adorned with red and gold baubles, stands just meters away from the Church of the Nativity. Its illumination, which drew cheers from crowds of Palestinian Christians and Muslims, represents the first major public observance of Christmas in the city since hostilities began in October 2023.
The Two Years of Darkness
For the past two Christmas seasons, the Bethlehem Municipality—in solidarity with the people of Gaza—had canceled all major public festivities. This refusal to celebrate transformed the city’s vibrant holiday season into a protracted period of mourning.
- Economic Collapse: The decision was deeply felt, particularly economically. Bethlehem relies heavily on tourism, with an estimated 80% of the city’s Muslim-majority residents dependent on the industry. The war and subsequent security restrictions caused the local economy to collapse, with unemployment soaring and hotels sitting eerily empty.
- A Shared Anguish: Bethlehem Mayor Maher Nicola Canawati confirmed that the silence was a collective act of solidarity. “As Bethlehem lights its Christmas tree, the deep anguish endured by our people in Gaza does not leave our hearts,” he stated. “The wound of Gaza is our wound… and the light of Christmas has no meaning unless it first touches the hearts of the afflicted.”
The renewed lighting ceremony comes as a precarious ceasefire in Gaza enters its second month, easing the immediate pressure of active conflict, though the suffering and economic devastation remain profound across the occupied territories.
A Message of Hope and Defiance
The return of the lights was not a signal of carefree revelry, but rather one of determined optimism in the face of immense adversity. The traditional fireworks display, for instance, was noticeably absent—a solemn nod to the gravity of the wider conflict.
- Resilience: “It’s like a symbol for resilience,” said Abeer Shtaya, a 27-year-old who traveled 100 kilometers to attend the ceremony. “It’s a message for the world that it’s calm, and we are looking for hope.”
- Unity: The thousands who packed Manger Square included Palestinian Christians and Muslims who traveled from across the West Bank and Israel, underscoring the deep national and community unity in a city that historically thrives on Christian pilgrimage.
- Tourism’s Flicker: Local businesses and hotel owners, whose premises have been largely shuttered for two years, expressed cautious optimism. While visitor numbers are still only a fraction of pre-war figures, the return of the ceremony has already sparked renewed inquiries from international pilgrims, hoping the event signals a pathway back to normalcy.
As the yellow lights and the bright red star shone over Manger Square, Bethlehem’s message was clear: The city, the symbolic birthplace of peace, refuses to let sorrow extinguish its identity. The act of lighting the tree became a powerful declaration that even in the darkest of times, hope and the will to celebrate life can endure.