Palestinian flags and Christmas symbols mixed to the rhythm of bagpipes and drums today in the city of Bethlehem, during the traditional Christmas Eve parade, to the enjoyment of the thousands of travelers who these days visit the land where Jesus was born.
For more than three hours dozens of bands from scouts Palestinians paraded through the center of the city to Manger Square, next to the Basilica of the Nativity. Old people, young people and children participated dressed in typical uniforms and decorated for the occasion, playing music that is more Celtic than Arabic.
And it is that listening to bagpipes in the Middle East is very unusual, but not in Palestine, where this instrument came from the hands of the English during the British Mandate (1920-1948). And here it stayed and the Palestinians adopted it as a symbol of rebellion and resistance. So there is no Palestinian parade where the bagpipes are not played.
And to the rhythm of the bagpipes he paraded today in a crowded Bethlehem, where the restaurants were full and in the air there was a strong smell of frying and Arabic coffee. A city where vendors of handicrafts and souvenirs made a killing in the middle of December, while tourists, pilgrims, Palestinian authorities and the people of the neighborhood filled the streets and a few unarmed policemen tried in vain to facilitate the passage of the scouts and keep some order.
The city of Bethlehem, in the occupied West Bank, treasures one of the most important places for Christianity, the place where Jesus of Nazareth was born more than 2,000 years ago and on which the Basilica of the Nativity has been built. The largest community of Christian Palestinians is also located here, with more than 33,000 people.
Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas addressed them and the world in a Christmas message in which he stated that “Palestine is celebrating with the rest of the world the glorious occasion of Christmas, the birth of Christ, messenger of love and peace ”.
“In this celebration we raise the flag of Palestine, we light Christmas trees, accompanied by choirs and beautiful religious hymns, scout parades and our children participate from Jerusalem and Bethlehem, to the rest of the homeland and in exile,” added the president. .
After more than two years of closure due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Christmas festivities return to the city of Bethlehem to the delight of its residents who live mostly from tourism. The Palestinian authorities expect this season the arrival of more than 100,000 visitors to the land where the Christian Messiah was born.
