Bethlehem Christmas 2024/ Notre Dame reopening/ Syria Christmas celebrations/ NORAD Santa tracker/ holiday resilience worldwide/ BETHLEHEM/ West Bank/ Newslooks/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Christmas Eve was marked by subdued celebrations across the globe as conflicts, tragedies, and ongoing challenges tempered holiday cheer. From Bethlehem’s quiet observance under the shadow of war to the return of worship at Paris’ Notre Dame Cathedral, communities worldwide reflected on resilience and unity. In Syria and Wisconsin, joy and grief intertwined, while travel woes and weather added to the complexity of the season.
Christmas Celebrations Amid Global Challenges: Quick Looks
- Bethlehem: Tourism plummets amid Gaza conflict and violence in the West Bank.
- Notre Dame Cathedral: Paris hosts first Christmas Eve Mass since 2019 fire.
- Syria: A rare moment of joy in Saydnaya with a community tree-lighting celebration.
- Wisconsin: A church honors victims of a school shooting during its Christmas service.
- Global Traditions: Volunteers in Spain bring cheer to seafarers; NORAD tracks Santa for kids.
Global Christmas Celebrations Highlight Resilience Amid Adversity
Deep Look
Bethlehem’s Quiet Christmas
Bethlehem, the traditional birthplace of Jesus, held subdued Christmas Eve celebrations as the ongoing war in Gaza and violence in the West Bank cast a long shadow.
Manger Square, usually bustling with lights, a giant tree, and tourists, was uncharacteristically quiet. Palestinian scouts marched solemnly, and shops near the Church of the Nativity remained shuttered. The city’s tourism industry, which relies heavily on Christmas visitors, has been devastated, with annual arrivals plummeting from 2 million in 2019 to fewer than 100,000 in 2024.
Latin Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa expressed hope for better days: “This has to be the last Christmas that is so sad,” he told those gathered in the square. In Gaza, displaced Christians prayed for peace while sheltering in a church.
Notre Dame Cathedral Welcomes Worshippers Again
In Paris, Notre Dame Cathedral hosted its first Christmas Eve Masses since the devastating fire of 2019. About 2,000 people attended an afternoon service, marveling at the restored grandeur of the medieval landmark.
Resilience in Syria
In Saydnaya, Syria, families gathered near a historic monastery to celebrate the lighting of a Christmas tree. The event provided a rare moment of joy for a city scarred by years of war.
Houssam Saadeh, a local attendee, said, “There’s happiness, victory, and a new birth for Syria and a new birth for Christ.” Despite isolated incidents of vandalism, the celebration was a symbol of unity and hope.
Grief and Joy in Wisconsin
At City Church in Madison, Wisconsin, lead pastor Tom Flaherty led a candlelight service eight days after a deadly school shooting on the church’s campus. Flaherty urged congregants to find joy through faith, even amid tragedy.
The church recently hosted a funeral for Rubi Patricia Vergara, a 14-year-old victim of the shooting, as the community grappled with the loss.
Global Moments of Cheer
- Travel Joy and Woes: Hundreds of sailors reunited with loved ones in Virginia as the USS Cole returned home for Christmas. Meanwhile, American Airlines grounded flights briefly, and winter weather created additional travel hurdles.
- Santa Tracker Tradition: In Colorado Springs, NORAD volunteers fielded calls from children eager to learn Santa’s location, continuing a beloved Cold War-era tradition.
- Seafarers Celebrated: In Barcelona, Spain, volunteers delivered holiday treats and Nativity scenes to docked ships, bringing Christmas cheer to international seafarers.
White Christmas in the Balkans
Heavy snow blanketed parts of the Balkans, creating travel disruptions but also a picturesque holiday scene. In Bosnia, one resident remarked,
“We did not have snow for Christmas for 17 years here, and now is the time for a wonderful white Christmas.”
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