By Beata M. Andonia of www.Travelujah.com
Special to ASSIST News Service
BETHLEHEM,
WEST BANK – (ANS)- Each year, as we approach the joyful atmosphere of the
Christmas season, hearing and singing the Christmas carols being played on the
radio, in the malls and throughout the stores, we can’t help but think of
Bethlehem – the place of Jesus’ birth. But … this year, don’t just think of Bethlehem
- BE in Bethlehem! Is there anything better than spending the Christmas
season where Christ was born??
Undoubtedly, Bethlehem is singularly
important with its historical place in history and people around the world hold
a special place for this small city.
The Three Wise Man came here to the
humble manger, to worship the little baby Jesus and give him the precious gifts
of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
Now after Jesus was born in
Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the
east came [...] (Matthew 2: 1)
This year, join the people of
Bethlehem and share your Christmas holidays with local Christians. Plenty of
amazing Christmas attractions and spiritual experiences are waiting for you in
Bethlehem where “it all began”.
Beginning in November, you can
admire the beautiful Christmas lights erected throughout Bethlehem’s Old City
and of course, more and more decorations will appear over the next few weeks.
The season officially begins on the 27th of November – the day of the Christmas
Market prepared by the Peace Center, located on the Manger Square. The market
will present a range of Christmas decorations, trees, lights, foods and much
more.
Two masses (at 7:30 am and 10:00 am)
will also occur on this same day to celebrate the feast of St. Catherine, the
patroness of the Catholic church of the St. Catherine, located just on the site
of the Nativity Church.
On the 15th of December, the first
day of Novena of Christmas, there will be a solemn lightning of the Christmas
tree in front of the Basilica of the Nativity, on the Manger Square. This will
be a time of a great celebration followed with singing and numerous fireworks.
The Christmas tree of Beit Sahour, famous for its Shepherds’ Fields, will be
lit on the 17th of December at 4pm, next to the Catholic Church.
On the 19th of December, the feast
of St. Nickolas (Santa Claus) is going to be celebrated in Beit Jala – a small
city next to Bethlehem, the place where St. Nickolas used to live for some
period of his life. The holiday is going to be accompanied by a parade of local
scouts – a very special site.
Several Christmas concerts will occur during that time. There is an annual tradition of a carol choir
singing on the Manger Square on Christmas Eve. This year, the
Evangelical-Lutheran Christmas Church will host a series of short Christmas
concerts each hour, beginning from 7pm. There is also something for the less
conventional visitors – Rock to Bethlehem concert, presenting international
rock music on Saturday 16th of November on the Manger Square.
Every year on the 24th December at
1pm there is a ceremonial welcoming of the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem. The
great festive scout parade of scouts marches through the Star Street – the way
Mary and Joseph and later the Wise Man arrived to the Nativity Grotto located
inside the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.
A very special experience is the
annual Midnight Mass in the Basilica of the Nativity on the Christmas Eve (24th
of December). The mass symbolises the act of waiting for the miracle of
Christ’s birth. People gather in the church to pray and spend this great moment
together. Due to the overwhelming popularity of the event, only visitors who’ve
received a special entrance ticket will be allowed to enter the Midnight Mass
at the Church.
In addition there is a Christmas
mass on 25th of December inside the Saint Catherine Church, adjacent to the
Church of the Nativity.
Bethlehem is inhabited by Christians
of many different denominations which follow different calendars as well.
Christmas day is celebrated in Bethlehem couple of times, Catholic and
Protestant denominations will celebrate the holiday on the 25th of December;
Armenians will celebrate on the 6th of January; while Orthodox Christmas falls
on the 7th of January.
About The Author -
Beata M. Andonia works for the
Bethlehem tourist bureau and blogs regularly about Bethlehem for www.Travelujah.com.
She is originally from Poland and moved to Bethlehem in 2010.
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