This year, for the first time since the October 7th attacks in 2023, the Christmas tree in Manger Square in Bethlehem has been lit, and Christmas parades have returned.
Pilgrims are beginning to return to the Holy Land, bringing much-needed support for local people who depend on tourism to survive.
Paul Calvert, a Christian journalist who lives in Bethlehem, has reported for Premier throughout the past two years of conflict between Israel and Hamas.
He told Premier that during that time he has found comfort writing books and poems, one of which tells a story of hope and is based on London’s Trafalgar Square Christmas tree:
“It was just a couple of months after October 7th two years ago, when Israelis were feeling so low and so many people had been killed. Then, of course, they were sending their sons and daughters out to war. But here in Bethlehem, on the Palestinian side, people were seeing what was happening in Gaza and then in Bethlehem.
“Christmas wasn’t cancelled, but there was no celebration — no Christmas tree, no lights.
“So it was a really sad time here.”
The Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree tells the story of a Christmas tree in Norway that never gives up his dream of becoming one of the most famous trees in the world.
Paul said: “I think it's really important that we all have dreams and visions. The Bible says, without a vision, the people perish. So we all need to grab hold of a dream and a vision and work towards that dream. And I think everybody, no matter how old, whether you're five years old or 95, should have a dream and a vision placed in our hearts.”
He added that there is a completely different atmosphere in Bethlehem this Christmas, and the lighting of the tree brought many people to Manger Square:
“It was so busy, and then people were out at the Christmas market. They were doing special pantomimes and singing carols, and it just brought back the atmosphere of Christmas.
“And in Manger Square, you have Muslims and Christians coming together. We're all just enjoying it and having a great time. And we've seen tourism start to develop here in Bethlehem, which is so important. It’s what Bethlehem needs because Bethlehem is built on tourism. It’s been an absolute disaster for Bethlehem over the last two years of war. So that just brings hope and excitement as well.”