Bethlehem revives Christmas tradition with first tree lighting since Gaza conflict

For the first time in more than two years, festive lights returned to Bethlehem on Saturday as the city illuminated its Christmas tree, signalling a cautious yet emotional revival of one of the world’s most symbolic holiday celebrations.

Thousands gathered at Manger Square, a stone’s throw from the ancient Church of the Nativity, as the towering tree covered in shimmering red and gold ornaments, blazed to life under a cloudy sky lit by the glow of an almost-full moon.

The crowd erupted in applause as the lights came on after a ceremony lasting about two hours.

Bethlehem has not held its traditional Christmas festivities since October 2023, when the war in Gaza erupted following Hamas’s attack on Israel.

For many in attendance, the return of the colourful display was a sign of both relief and endurance.

“It represents strength,” said 27-year-old Abeer Shtaya, who travelled from Salfit with a group of university students to join the celebration.

“We wanted to stand with the people of Bethlehem and feel some joy together.”

Vendors dressed in festive attire, including a man in a Santa suit selling balloons, lined parts of the square.

Despite a brief drizzle, families filled rooftops and balconies to secure a view of the tree, while nuns peered from nearby buildings to witness the moment.

Inside his ceramic shop facing the square, store owner Mike Shahen welcomed a trickle of visitors.

“This is a message that things are calmer,” the 43-year-old said, hopeful that the ceremony might signal a gradual return of foot traffic.

Both residents and visitors, Christians and Muslims alike, turned out for the celebration.

Some arrived from neighbouring towns across the West Bank, others from Israel, and a few from even further abroad.

Among the visitors was musician Liyu Lu, who travelled from northern Israel, near the Lebanese border.

“It’s emotional to see this happening again,” she said. “For two years everything has been overshadowed by war and loss.”

Another attendee, 51-year-old Gary Lau, a Christian businessman staying in Jerusalem, described the event as “a privilege to experience,” adding that he wanted to soak in its atmosphere after months of tension in the region.

For the past two years, public Christmas festivities in Bethlehem were largely suspended, replaced by subdued ceremonies reflecting the severity of the conflict.

Although international pilgrimage numbers plummeted during the fighting, some groups have quietly begun returning.

Tour guide and Terra Dei director Fabien Safar noted that a handful of pilgrim groups plan to visit this Christmas, with additional bookings trickling in for 2026.

He predicts a full recovery “around 2027,” but cautioned that much will depend on developments in Gaza and Lebanon.

Despite a ceasefire deal in late 2024 between Israel and Hezbollah, Israeli strikes on Lebanese territory have persisted, fuelling travellers’ fears.

“People are still uncertain because the war in Gaza has not officially ended,” Safar said. “Many also worry about the northern front.”

The prolonged conflict has dealt a heavy blow to Bethlehem’s tourism-based economy, which was only just recovering from the collapse brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Covid hurt us, but these past two years were far worse,” said Shahen, the ceramic shop owner, describing shuttered businesses and dwindling revenue.

Visitors who made the journey on Saturday faced long delays at Israeli military checkpoints, now a regular part of travel across the West Bank since the 2023 escalation.

Violence in the territory occupied by Israel since 1967, has surged alongside the Gaza conflict and has not eased despite the recent truce between Israel and Hamas.

Even so, for many gathered in Manger Square, the lighting of the Christmas tree signalled a rare moment of unity and respite.

As the golden lights glimmered across the plaza and children laughed beneath the ornaments, the people of Bethlehem embraced a tradition they had long been denied hoping that the glow of the tree might mark the beginning of a calmer season.