Photos and videos of the Christmas tree lighting ceremony in Bethlehem, and in front of the Church of the Nativity, have gone viral across social media platforms.
The iconic tree was illuminated on Saturday night for the first time in two years, after celebrations were halted due to the outbreak of the war on the Gaza Strip.
Bethlehem lit its Christmas tree for the first time since 2022. 🎄
A 20‑meter beacon of light and hope in Manger Square, shining beside the Church of the Nativity, the birthplace of our Lord Jesus Christ. ✨ https://t.co/8vKArARlso pic.twitter.com/R4cQmzgQeK
— Muse (@xmuse_) December 7, 2025
Social media users across Facebook, Instagram, and X shared images and videos capturing emotional moments from the ceremony in the West Bank city.
Residents gathered to celebrate the approaching New Year and the return of Christmas festivities to the Holy Land, following two years of cancellations caused by Israel’s military operations in Gaza.
During the period of conflict, all public Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem were suspended, leaving the city’s traditional festivities absent from the Christian calendar.
Bethlehem lights up giant Christmas tree in Manger Square to kick start the season's festivities#SamaaTV pic.twitter.com/I4602xKMsX
— SAMAA TV (@SAMAATV) December 7, 2025
However, following a recent ceasefire, Bethlehem officials announced the resumption of the holiday events this year, starting with the lighting of the city’s giant Christmas tree in front of the historic Church of the Nativity.
Videos circulating online show Christian and Muslim residents celebrating side by side, taking photos in front of the towering Christmas tree decorated with red and gold ornaments.
Bright, colorful lights now illuminate the streets of Bethlehem after two years of darkness and cancelled festivities.
The ceremony drew families, children, and local community members who expressed relief and joy at the symbolic return of Christmas in the birthplace of Jesus.
The nearby West Bank towns of Beit Jala and Beit Sahour are scheduled to light their own Christmas trees in the coming days. Hotels, which remained nearly empty throughout the past two years, are now reporting a surge in bookings from Palestinian visitors, along with a number of international tourists.
The revival of Christmas celebrations is being widely seen as a moment of hope and resilience for Bethlehem and its surrounding communities after a prolonged period of hardship.
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