Christmas
All topics-
"Christ in the Rubble" by Munther IsaacThe Christian case against the war on Gaza
Munther Isaac, a West Bank pastor, rejects Bible-based justifications for war and calls Gaza a "moral compass". In "Christ in the Rubble", he presents a view of the war that is polarising without being destructive.
-
Palestinian ChristiansBethlehem: Gaza war mars Christmas festivities
Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank, the supposed birthplace of Jesus, is usually busy over the Christmas season. This year, however, most festivities were cancelled because of the Gaza conflict.
-
No festive season in the West BankChristmas muted in 'grieving' Bethlehem
Outside Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity in the Palestinian West Bank, the throngs of tourists and pilgrims who normally rub shoulders with costumed Santas and marching bands are missing this year
-
Turkey's "Noel Baba"Questions and answers about St. Nicholas
The Feast of Saint Nicholas, observed on 6 December in Western Christian countries falls within the season of Advent. But who was this bringer of gifts?
-
Christmas in IsraelCulture war over the Christian holiday
Christmas is becoming increasingly popular among secular Israelis. It spreads a festive atmosphere that promotes understanding between people of different faiths. Orthodox Jews, however, view the holiday as a threat. By Joseph Croitoru
-
Jesus and Mary in the KoranThe message of mercy
Jesus – Issa in Arabic – doesn’t merely enjoy the highest place among the prophets in the Koran. He is also revered in Islam’s mystical tradition for his message of love and mercy. By Aziz Fooladvand
-
Shlomit Tripp‘s Puppet Theatre "Bubales“Vibrant, Jewish, intercultural
With her puppet theatre "Bubales“, the artist Shlomit Tripp gives audiences a light-hearted taste of Jewish life in a bid to build bridges between religions and cultures. She was presented with the Obermayer Award for her work in January. Ceyda Nurtsch met her and her cast of colourful characters
-
Bethlehem celebrates a subdued Christmas
Christmas in Bethlehem is usually a festive and colourful season. This year, festivities in the Palestinian town are set to return – but the COVID-19 pandemic is still casting a shadow on celebrations
-
Haifa's Holiday of HolidaysThe festival where everyone is welcome
Haifa is known for being Israel’s exemplary model of relative harmony between Jewish and Palestinian citizens. Its unique "Holiday of Holidays" is a joyous, multicultural event that has become a major player in domestic tourism. After a two-year break due to the pandemic, Noam Yatsiv writes from this year's festival
-
The real story of Christmas: from sun-worship to Sinterklaas
History doesn’t record when the first Christmas was celebrated, but it was probably sometime in the fourth century CE, in the Roman Empire. What's sure is that the first historic record of the holiday is a calendar dating from 354 CE, belonging to a rich Roman Christian named Philocalus.
-
Christmas 2021What would Mary and Joseph's journey to Bethlehem look like today?
More than 2,000 years since Mary and Joseph made the arduous journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem, where Christians believe Jesus was born, checkpoints and political divisions greet pilgrims retracing their steps through Israel and the occupied West Bank
-
LebanonSanta closed: in Beirut, crisis snuffs out Christmas spirit
Beirut in December was once a shopping extravaganza, where day-long traffic jams clogged streets decked out with flashing Christmas lights and building-sized billboards advertising champagne and jewellery
