Bethlehem celebrates first festive Christmas since Gaza war

AFP/APP

Bethlehem: Scouts marched under a clear blue sky in Bethlehem on Wednesday as the Palestinian city emerged from the shadow of the war in Gaza to celebrate its first festive Christmas in more than two years.

Throughout the Gaza war, which began with Hamas’s attack on Israel in October 2023, a sombre tone had marked Christmases in the biblical birthplace of Jesus Christ.

But on Wednesday, celebrations were in full swing again in the occupied West Bank city as a fragile truce held in Gaza, where hundreds of thousands of people are facing winter in makeshift tents.

At the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV delivered his first Christmas Mass at Saint Peter’s Basilica after calling for “24 hours of peace in the whole world.”

The American pontiff, elected by fellow cardinals in May following the death of Pope Francis, said Christmas was a feast of “faith, charity and hope” and criticised a “distorted economy” that “leads us to treat human beings as mere merchandise.”

Leo delivered a deeply religious homily without direct reference to current affairs.

Across the world, families began gathering to mark Christmas Eve, while millions of children eagerly awaited the arrival of their gifts.

In Bethlehem, the sound of drums and bagpipes playing renditions of popular Christmas carols filled the air as Christians young and old made their way to the city’s central Manger Square.

“Today is full of joy because we haven’t been able to celebrate because of the war,” said Milagros Anstas, 17, dressed in the yellow and blue uniform of Bethlehem’s Salesian scout group.

‘Desire of life’

Hundreds of people took part in a parade down Bethlehem’s narrow Star Street, while dense crowds gathered in Manger Square.

Men dressed as Santa Claus sold toffee apples and toys as families posed for photographs in front of a nativity scene framed by a giant star.

As evening fell, multi-coloured lights illuminated Manger Square, and a towering Christmas tree glittered beside the Church of the Nativity.

The basilica dates back to the fourth century and was built over a grotto believed by Christians to be the birthplace of Jesus more than 2,000 years ago.

Bethlehem residents hope the return of Christmas festivities will breathe new life into the city.

“We need to get the message to the whole world and this is the only way,” said George Hanna from the neighbouring town of Beit Jala. “What is Christmas without celebrating?”

Bethlehem’s municipality had toned down Christmas celebrations while war raged in Gaza, but a US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has halted full-scale fighting since October.

“This year we want a Christmas full of light because this is what we need after two years of darkness,” said Jerusalem’s Latin Patriarch, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, before leading Midnight Mass at the Church of the Nativity.

The senior cleric visited war-battered Gaza over the weekend and led a Christmas Mass at the Holy Family Parish in Gaza City on Sunday.

He told crowds in Manger Square that he had witnessed “a disaster” in the Palestinian territory but also a spirit of resilience.

“The situation is really catastrophic. But I saw there also the desire of life, as here,” he said.

“In the midst of nothing, they have been able to celebrate.”

Carmelina Piedimonte, who travelled from Italy to Bethlehem as part of a Catholic group, said witnessing the celebrations had filled her with hope.

“If in your heart you have love, then it’s possible to have a world without war,” she said, as bells rang out behind her.

‘New future’

In Syria, Christmas lights illuminated Damascus’s Old City despite fears among the Christian community following a deadly shooting and suicide bombing attack in June.

Across the district, red baubles hung from trees, shopkeepers displayed festive decorations, and street vendors sold warm chestnuts.

“Syria deserves joy and for us to be happy, and to hope for a new future,” said student Loris Aasaf, 20, as she soaked up the atmosphere with friends.

Globally, families with the means to do so gathered to mark Christmas Eve, while children counted down the hours until their presents arrived.

The Flightradar24 tracking site revived its annual tradition of posting a live Santa tracker, showing Father Christmas’s sleigh travelling from the North Pole around the world.

In Australia, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese struck a sombre tone following a recent attack on a Hanukkah celebration at Sydney’s Bondi Beach.

“Wherever you are across our wonderful country, Christmas will feel different this year,” he said.

“After the terror inflicted on Jewish Australia celebrating Hanukkah at Bondi Beach, we feel the weight of sorrow in our hearts.”