On the 5th of December, Bethlehem Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony took place in Manager Square in Bethlehem, right across from the Church of the Nativity.
Bethlehem lit up its Christmas tree on Saturday evening but without the usual crowds, as novel coronavirus restrictions put a damper on the start of Christmas festivities in the holy city.
Palestinian authorities last week announced measures, including a night-time curfew, across the occupied West Bank for 14 days to fight a worrying spread of the virus.
Palestinians and pilgrims traditionally gather each year for the lighting of the tree in Manger Square, near the Church of the Nativity, built on the site where Jesus was born. But this year, only a small crowd of journalists was present due to coronavirus restrictions.
In recent years, this new Bethlehem Christmas tradition has developed, with a tree-lighting ceremony taking place in Manger Square in Bethlehem. Tree lighting ceremonies have become the official start of Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem district, marked with music.
The public event of lighting up the impressive array of Christmas lights and the towering Christmas tree of Bethlehem used to be attended by a huge crowd of Christians, pilgrims and local Muslims. However, due to the coronavirus, it was streamed online via Facebook where everyone watched from the comfort of their own homes.
Prepare for Christmas and celebrate the birth of our savior Jesus Christ by decorating your house and hearts with our hand-made Bethlehem’s hand carved Christmas ornaments and Nativity sets. We ‘ Bethlehem Handicrafts’ are so proud to put the Holy Land in your hand by giving you a variety of the best and the most outstanding original Bethlehem’s olive wood carvings with the best quality made in the Holy Land. Made by Christian hands and Loved by Christian Hearts.
Christmas celebrations will be put on hold this Christmas. Every year, there used to be a huge Christmas parade that includes different Scouts from all over the Holy Land, a group of Palestinian girls dressed in traditional Palestinian clothing, and many clowns and jugglers.
Christmas in the Holy Land puts everyone in Palestine in a blissful and peaceful state. It brings faithful believers from all around the world together with the “Living Stones” of the Holy Land, and it is not exclusively celebrated by Christians; many local Muslims also participate in the festivities of Christmas every year.
The situation in the Holy Land is dire– Christian families have been without income since March due to the lack of income from tourism, and they are struggling to find a way to survive.
One way you can help is by visiting the Bethlehem Handicrafts website where you can buy these authentic, quality olive wood carvings made by the Christians in Bethlehem. This is one of the best, most reliable sources to buy authentic olive wood carvings from Bethlehem.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone!
We, the Bethlehem Handicrafts’ team, are so proud to put the Holy Land in your hand by giving you a variety of the best and the most outstanding original Bethlehem’s olive wood carvings with the best quality made in the Holy Land.
