BETHLEHEM (CNS): The normal crowds of pilgrims and tourists may not have been able to come to Bethlehem for Christmas due to Covid-19 travel restrictions for a second year in a row, but local Palestinian Christians wanted to assure everyone that the Christmas spirit is still alive and well in the city of Jesus’ birth.
“Tell the world that the one word for Christmas would be ‘joy,’ and we have that here. Tell them that Christmas is about family,” Francis Gedeon, said after Christmas Mass as his family posed for photos in the courtyard of St. Catherine Church, adjacent to the Church of the Nativity.
“We pray the pandemic will end soon.”
His son, Fadi, agreed saying, “We are still happy to be able to celebrate Christmas despite everything, especially in Bethlehem.”
Gedeon’s daughter, Rawan, added, “Christmas is when family gets together, that is the most important thing.”
She said, “It has been a challenging year due to Covid, but we still have the spirit of Christmas and send prayers to the whole world. I love the Christmas feeling of peace, despite all the difficulties and restrictions.” She said that as the world continued to struggle with the pandemic, she felt especially blessed to be able to celebrate Christmas in Bethlehem.
