No Christmas cheer in Bethlehem this year amid coronavirus pandemic

Aziza Nofal

Dec 1, 2020

A worker sets up lights on a giant Christmas tree at the Church of the Nativity compound as mass was celebrated to ceremonially launch the beginning of the Christmas season, in Bethlehem in the Israeli-occupied West Bank November 28, 2020. (Photo by Emmanuel DUNAND / AFP) (Photo by EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP via Getty Images) — A worker sets up lights on a giant Christmas tree at the Church of the Nativity compound as mass was celebrated to ceremonially launch the beginning of the Christmas season, Bethlehem, West Bank, Nov. 28, 2020. — Emmanuel Dunand/AFP via Getty Images

On Nov. 23, the Palestinian government declared a two-week lockdown starting Nov. 27.

In light of this decision, the Bethlehem municipality announced Nov. 24 that the opening of the annual Christmas market, scheduled to begin in the first week of December, has been postponed until Dec. 19 or Dec. 20.

The Christmas market is one of the main events of the Christmas season in Palestine, which usually begins in the first week of December and lasts until Jan. 10.

The residents of Bethlehem and other Christians in Palestine fear they will not be able to take part in these celebrations, especially after the local health directorate in Bethlehem recommended Nov. 21 the cancellation of Christmas celebrations in the governorate due to the coronavirus pandemic.

No Christmas cheer in Bethlehem this year amid coronavirus pandemic

The municipality of Bethlehem in the southern West Bank has begun preparations to celebrate the holidays amid exceptional measures due to the coronavirus pandemic.

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