As Christmas approaches this year, the twinkling lights usually embellishing Manger Square and the iconic Christmas tree, symbolizing the season in Bethlehem, are absent. Unwrapped presents lay waste to dust, Santa's jingle bells fall silent, and the resonating choruses of carolers are merely an echo in the wind. This nonpareil town, known as the birthplace of Jesus, bids a somber farewell to its conventional Christmas celebrations.
Bethlehem's decision is rooted in empathy for the unearthly pain endured by her Palestinian brothers and sisters amidst the war between Israel and Hamas. Stripping away the jingle of Christmas, does not feel like a loss when stacked against the panorama of suffering in Gaza. The Mayor of Bethlehem, Hana Haniyeh, paints a gloomy picture of a sinking economy but insists that it pales when juxtaposed with the price of human lives in Gaza.
This is a palpable blow to Bethlehem, a town that relies heavily on Christmas for its economy. The lack of the Yuletide spirit isn't just a local issue - it resonates globally. Bethlehem's majestic Christmas celebrations attract visitors from every nook and corner of the world, infusing millions into the town's economy. The silent streets whisper of a significant dip in Bethlehem's tourism sector suffering losses of $2.5 million a day.
While the town's year-round Christmas shops echo their usual charm, local hotel accommodations wear a desolate look. Flights stand grounded, and the hum of anticipation around Bethlehem has been replaced by an eerie silence. Despite a dark cloud hanging over the festivities, the supernova of spiritual gatherings, the Midnight Mass, will be conducted.
In this sea of adversity, the message of peace is imprinted even more fervently in the hearts of Bethlehem's residents. This year, the Boy Scout troop plans a silent march, their heads bowed in mourning for the souls lost in Gaza. The message of Christmas permeates phenomena beyond the conventional, echoing loud in their tender hearts that reject injustice and yearn for peace.
Historically, Bethlehem's ebullient Yuletide festivities have often mirrored the socio-political temperature between Israel and Palestine. This year, the simmering tension of an ongoing war casts an ominous shadow.
The sobriety of the season stretches beyond Bethlehem. Jerusalem too is cradled in a cocoon of uncertainty and fear. The festiveness is replaced by an overwhelming sense of solidarity - a unity that echoes beyond the borders.
In a heartwrenching portraiture of the current circumstance, Bethlehem’s Evangelical Lutheran church showcases a nativity scene with baby Jesus enveloped in a Palestinian keffiyeh, lying amongst rubble beneath an olive tree - a stark depiction of unwavering resilience.
Despite the joyous celebrations worldwide, the whistling winds in Bethlehem whisper a different Christmas tale, one drenched in struggle, sacrifices, love, resilience, and unwavering hope for peace. This narrative illuminates a sobering truth: Christmas isn't always about jingle bells and fairy lights; sometimes, it's about solidarity, resilience, and an unwavering hope for peace.
