Thousands of Christian pilgrims and faithful from many places around the world together with the local Christians, have gathered together in the town of Bethlehem to celebrate Christmas on Dec. 24, Saturday, after a tense year between the Palestinians and the Israelis.
The faithful have endured the cold weather outside Manger Square in the biblical West Bank town of Bethlehem while traditional songs like "Jingle Bells" played in Arabic in loud speakers, according to CNBC. Both the tourists and the local Christians alike have enjoyed strolling and wandering around the square decorated by festive red and golden lights and a huge Christmas tree.
Rodrigo Reis, a tourist from Louisville, Kentucky, has shared in an interview, how the experience was unique for him. He said that it was a very meaningful way to celebrate Christmas, thinking that it was where everything about Christmas started.
In a statement obtained by Ynet News, the tourism officials said that thousands of tourists are always expected to visit not only Bethlehem but also Jerusalem and Nazareth over the holidays. The Christians in the Holy Land only make up a small percentage of the whole population but somehow, the festivities were able to bring in the holiday cheer.
"There is more stability this year and the numbers coming out of the tourism ministry are showing that there will be growth between 2015 and 2016," Sami Khoury, who runs the Visit Palestine online tourism porta, told the newspaper in an interview. Wahid al-Laham, a Bethlehem shop owner selling Christmas memorabilia and decorations, also told the publication that Christmas shopping "was half the rate of previous years, but 80 percent higher than compared to 2015."
After the region experienced a wave of Israeli-Palestinian protests and violence a year ago, more optimism reigned this year in Israel. Shopping was even better this year compared to 2015, according to al-Laham.
Amidst the political instability in the Middle East as well as the ongoing wars, Bethlehem still tries to promote itself as a defender of peace and stability. Thus, the preservation of the yearly Christmas celebrations hosted in the city to preserve and support the Christian presence in Palestine.
Here's a video clip of the Christmas celebration of Christian pilgrims in Bethlehem: