Bethlehem Christmas tree lighting draws crowds amid hopes for busy festive period

After Covid lockdowns forced the biblical sites to close for the first time in living memory, many are hoping crowds will return to mark the occasion

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  Fireworks light up the sky in Bethlehem's Manger Square, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, to mark the beginning of the Christmas season. Reuters

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  The square takes its name from the manger where Christians believe Jesus was born. EPA

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  The large traditional Christmas tree in Manger Square. Bethlehem's Palestinians hope that tourist numbers will rise in the weeks before Christmas. EPA

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  People perform during events to mark the lightning of the Christmas tree at Manger Square, outside the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. Reuters

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  Palestinians in Bethlehem take part in the celebrations. Reuters

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  Performers at a Christmas market. Reuters

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  A Palestinian woman takes a selfie. Reuters

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  A Palestinian dressed as Santa Claus takes part in the celebrations. Reuters

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  A municipality worker decorates the Christmas tree in Manger Square. AFP

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  A family at the Christmas market. AP

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  Members of a Palestinian band march through the square. EPA

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  Sister Eliana, a French Catholic nun of the Little Sisters of Jesus, shows clay figurines of a crucifix and child to be sold during the Nativity season. AFP

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  Franciscan monks wait outside the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. AFP

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  A Palestinian artisan makes statues from olive wood for Christmas. AFP

Crowds gathered outside Bethlehem’s Church of the Nativity on Saturday night to light the city’s giant Christmas tree and open the winter market with music and fireworks.

The giant tree, topped with a bright red star, was lit up with hundreds of coloured lights as red, white and green fireworks illuminated the night sky.

"It is very joyful, a very nice evening. The air is full of hope, full of joy, full of expectation," said Maria, a tourist from Finland.

Tourists and pilgrims usually overrun the Palestinian city in the Israeli-occupied West Bank in December, visiting a number of the city’s holy sites including the Church of Nativity, built upon the place many Christians believe Jesus was born.

But, a year after Covid-19 forced the biblical site to close its doors for the first festive period in living memory, many hoped that the new Omicron coronavirus variant will not ruin another holiday season in the town believed to be the birthplace of Jesus.

Bethlehem Mayor Anton Salman said travel restrictions had already prevented several foreign delegations from attending and the city was still dealing with the economic hit from the long lockdowns.

“Unemployment increased by a lot. Our only way and our only choice is to focus on Bethlehem again and to encourage people to come and visit the city,” Mayor Salman said.

People at the market, open this year for 10 days, hoped that it would draw visitors and showcase Palestinian crafts.

“It is very important after the pandemic to make people come back to normal life, to enjoy the season,” Rola Sarras, who joined the throngs at the craft market, said. “It is very important that we are reactivating the street by showing the people the provision of the Palestinians in Bethlehem and the kind of crafts we produce.”

Israel has already brought in new rules to shut out foreign visitors for 14 days to try to prevent the spread of Omicron but hopes that the ban will be lifted in time for Christmas travel.

In its last pre-pandemic winter, in 2019/20, Bethlehem hosted 3.5 million visitors.