For the first time in two years, Bethlehem’s Manger Square is once again aglow with festive lights as the city celebrates Christmas amid a revival of tourism.

On Sunday evening, the towering Christmas tree in Manger Square was lit, drawing crowds of locals and pilgrims alike. Parades, carol singing, and a bustling Christmas market brought back the joyful atmosphere that had been absent since the October 2023 attacks and subsequent war between Israel and Hamas.

Paul Calvert, a Christian journalist based in Bethlehem, described the transformation as “a completely different atmosphere” compared to the somber holidays of the past two years. “It was so busy, people were out at the Christmas market, doing pantomimes and singing carols. Muslims and Christians came together, just enjoying it and having a great time,” he told Premier Christian News.

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