Holy Land Christians dare to hope this Christmas

It took only a few hours on December 6 for residents of Bethlehem to realise Christmas was back. Thousands of people turned up for the tree-lighting ceremony and concert in Manger Square, next to the Church of the Nativity, which is said to be the site where Jesus was born.

The unexpectedly large number of attendees has built up anticipation for the main events, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. For more than two years, the Gaza war emptied the city of tourists and pilgrims, a void that felt particularly sad during the festive season. The elaborate lights, crowded streets and loud hymns of the tree-lighting ceremony were a sign for many of real hope.

Buoyed by the success of the day, Levon Kalaydjian, who helped to organise the concert, told The National that “everybody was touched, it was something people felt they needed”.

People pose for a picture in Manger Square in the occupied West Bank city of Bethlehem. AP

“During the last two years, there were prayers in the church, but nothing felt the same. Even at home, many people didn't decorate a Christmas tree. They didn’t feel that they could celebrate with the war going on,” he said. “Many people here have lost family members and friends, so Christmas cannot be 100 per cent the same, but at least there is hope.”

These mixed feelings are felt across the Holy Land, where Christians are celebrating the f