Bethlehem, Birthplace of Jesus Christ, Cancels Christmas Celebration, Gives Serious Reason

• The annual celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ will not be held in Bethlehem, the city has announced
• Bethlehem, a Palestinian town south of Jerusalem in the West Bank, is the birthplace of the Christian Messiah, Jesus Christ
• The General Vicar and Patriarchal Vicar for Jerusalem, Bishop William Shomali, has shed light on why the year 2023's Christmas celebration in Bethlehem was shelved

Unlike other Christian faithful across the globe, the city of Bethlehem will not celebrate the forthcoming birth of Christmas, which is on December 25, Legit.ng learnt.

Situated 10km south of Jerusalem in the West Bank, Bethlehem is a Palestinian town central to the Christian story as it is the biblical birthplace of Jesus Christ.

Why Bethlehem won't celebrate this year's Christmas

Concerning the decision to cancel the Christmas celebration in Bethlehem, the General Vicar and Patriarchal Vicar for Jerusalem, Bishop William Shomali, attributed it to the Israel-Gaza war, Mail Guardian reports. In his words:

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“How can we celebrate Christmas when thousands of Palestinians got killed and injured and thousands of houses were destroyed in Gaza?”

A report by NPR explained that Palestinian leaders of Christian denominations came together in November to jointly decide on the cancellation, citing the devasting war in Gaza, which started on October 7.

On October 7, the Palestinian Sunni Islamist group Hamas led surprise attacks against Israel from the Gaza Strip by land, sea, and air.

The birth of Jesus Christ is celebrated annually on December 25 and started in 350 CE.

Why some Christians don't celebrate Christmas

Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported why some Christians do not celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

Despite Christmas's elaborate celebration and popularity, some Christians have refrained from the celebration while others condemned it in totality.

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Many Christians and doctrines in Christendom have shared divergent views on why they restrained themselves from celebrating Christmas.

However, according to Christian belief, those who celebrate Christmas believe it is a celebration of the life of the Messiah, who liberated the children of God from the kingdom of sins to the kingdom of heaven.

Source: Legit.ng