DSPR MECC Season Greetings
We wish you a blessed Advent season. It is a special time, especially in the Holy Land, as it leaves politics and violence behind for a while and makes way for the celebration of the arrival of our Saviour Jesus Christ in Bethlehem. As Christians in the Holy Land, we hold fast to our sacred traditions every year. For us as Palestinian communities, preserving the sacred significance of the many sites and traditions in the region takes precedence over conflicts.
Jerusalem is not only significant for Palestinian Christians and Christians around the world this Christmas season, but also the international home of people of many religious confessions. In the Christian Quarter in Jerusalem's Old City, a Christmas tree is traditionally lit every year in the first week of Advent, marking the beginning of the Christmas season here.
Given the many tourists who visit Jerusalem to enjoy Christmas, many events take place in the old city's narrow streets and alleyways. "Christmas parties, carols and the typical parades populate the streets of Jerusalem in December," says Rawan, who lives in the Old City. She feels happy and fulfilled when she walks the streets of the Old City in December. On the first day of Christmas, we attend church services, participate in Holy Communion and then each family' s home is visited, Rawan says. Afterwards, the elders organise a Christmas dinner where "the all the family gathers at their home to enjoy a lamb dish with many side dishes and desserts such as ma'amoul and spice cake.
In Bethlehem, the Christmas season traditionally begins with the large and festive lighting of the Christmas tree in Manger Square in front of Bethlehem Church. The huge tree and the streets and alleys are beautifully decorated for Christmas. The city is traditionally crowded with Christians from all over the world during the Christmas season. But Palestinian residents also celebrate the pre-Christmas season in Bethlehem by taking part in musical performances by the local scouts - an age-old Palestinian Christian tradition. Marwan from Beit Jala tells us that they participate in Advent throughout December. In the weeks leading up to Christmas, each family lights a candle in their home on Sunday morning. The fourth candle is then lit on Christmas Day. The Christian families celebrate Christmas in their homes and then attend Christmas Mass in the evening at the Church of the Nativity, the place where Jesus was born.
As in Bethlehem, the Palestinian Christians in Nazareth also cultivate their connection to Jesus Christ. In Jesus' hometown, people look forward to Christmas very much and begin intense preparations around 10 December," says Amani, who grew up in Nazareth. The families decorate a fresh Christmas tree and build elaborate nativity scenes," she recalls.
Nazareth is where it all began. Here the angel Gabriel came to the Virgin Mary and told her that she would give birth to a baby named Jesus. Some say that at that moment history was changed forever. Amani admires the decorated streets and buildings with all the lights every year. These lights present the hope that has come into the world. Here, too, the typical parades take place around the Church of Annunciation. On Christmas Day, families open their homes to guests after going to church in beautiful new clothes. In Jesus' hometown, the celebrations with carols and family visits continue for up to three weeks after Christmas.
We take this special time as an opportunity to say thank you. Thank you for your partnership, thank you for another year of being our friend and supporter. We pray that the spirit of Christmas will bring us all peace of mind, hope and love. To all who have supported us this year, we wish you a wonderful time filled with warmth and happiness. It is people like you who make our work possible. The New Year will certainly bring a new dimension to our partnership; in the spirit of Christmas, we say thank you and God bless you.
9. December 2022