JERUSALEM (CNS): It will be a quiet and subdued Christmas this year in Bethlehem, with almost 7,000 people involved in the tourism sector out of work because of the Covid-19 coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic, said the mayor of Bethlehem, Anton Salman.
Virtually no pilgrims or tourists have visited Bethlehem since the first cases of Covid-19 were diagnosed in a group of Greek pilgrims in March, in the West Bank.
In a video news conference on December 2, Father Salman told reporters that some 800 families have been left without any income as 67 hotels, 230 souvenir shops, 127 restaurants and 250 handicrafts workshops have been forced to close in a city that is economically dependent on tourism.
He said that although there is a responsibility to keep Christmas alive in Bethlehem, given the current situation, the holiday festivities will not be normal, adding that religious celebrations will follow the Status Quo traditions, but some protocols will need to be adapted to the Covid-19 reality.
Meetings between the churches and the municipality to finalise the procedures were scheduled to held by December 14.
Preparation of the city’s Christmas tree in Manger Square has already begun, but the area which is normally bustling with visitors at this time of year was almost empty in early December, with only a few local visitors stopping to take selfies with the tree.
There was no need this year to assemble the large festive stage next to the tree: There will be no musical performances from local and international choirs during the holiday season.
A nightly curfew imposed in Palestinian cities following a spike in Covid-19 cases is keeping people indoors between 7.00pm until 6.00am, and only a shortened version of the tree-lighting ceremony—usually a joyful kickoff to the holiday season took place on December 5.
Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, newly appointed Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, said that the patriarchate is engaged in discussions with both Palestinian and Israeli authorities to determine how the traditional Christmas religious celebrations will be held. But with the situation changing daily and the Israelis and Palestinians each with their own differing requirements, nothing has been finalised yet.
“We will do everything as usual but, of course, with less people. Things are changing every day, so it is difficult to say now what will be on the 25th of December,” Archbishop Pizzaballa said.
He said he would like people to be able to attend Christmas Mass along with representatives of local communities following necessary Covid-19 regulations.
