Cities hold subdued celebrations amid wars
BETHLEHEM, West Bank—Bethlehem marked another somber Christmas Eve on Tuesday in the traditional birthplace of Jesus under the shadow of war in Gaza.
The cheer that typically descends on the West Bank during Christmas week were nowhere to be found. The festive lights and giant tree that normally decorate Manger Square were missing, as were the throngs of foreign tourists.
Palestinian scouts marched silently through the streets, a departure from their usual raucous brass marching band. Security forces arranged barriers near the Church of the Nativity, built atop the spot where Jesus is believed to have been born.
Since the deadly Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack that sparked the war, access to and from Bethlehem and other towns in the West Bank has been limited, with long lines of motorists waiting to pass through Israeli military checkpoints.
Elsewhere, worshippers found connection despite difficult times.
Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris celebrated its first Christmas Eve Masses since a devastating fire ravaged the medieval landmark in 2019.
Rare moment of joy in Syria
About 2,000 people joined an afternoon Mass—one of four held on Tuesday—including worshippers and other visitors marveling at the restoration of the recently reopened cathedral. Some American tourists in Paris crafted their trip to ensure they could attend Christmas Eve services at Notre Dame.
“They did such an amazing job,” said visitor Aly Beinert. “It looks beautiful. It blew us away.”
In Saydnaya, Syria, a large crowd gathered near a historic monastery on Christmas Eve to witness the lighting of a towering tree adorned with glowing green lights.
The celebration offered a rare moment of joy in a city scarred by over a decade of war and its infamous prison, where tens of thousands were held.
Families and friends stood by the illuminated tree—some wearing Santa hats, others watching from rooftops—while a band played festive music and fireworks lit up the sky.
“This year is different—there’s happiness, victory and a new birth for Syria and a new birth for Christ,” said Houssam Saadeh, one attendee.
Honor for victims of shooting
At City Church in Madison, Wisconsin, lead pastor Tom Flaherty urged congregants at a candlelight Christmas Eve service to open their hearts to God’s grace.
“Happiness comes from what happens. Joy comes from a much deeper place, and it doesn’t matter what’s going on around you,” Flaherty said. “So number one, joy comes from God’s love, and forgiveness.”
Eight days earlier, there was a deadly shooting in the school on the church’s campus.
Over the weekend, the congregation hosted a funeral for Rubi Patricia Vergara, the 14-year-old freshman killed when another student opened fire. A teacher was also killed and several others injured before the shooter shot herself and later died at a hospital, police said.
In Virginia, hundreds of sailors and their loved ones got an early Christmas present when the USS Cole docked at its home port in Norfolk after seven months at sea.
Families bundled in coats and blankets, shed tears of gratitude and held signs bearing the sailors’ names and photos.
