Bethlehem’s public Christmas events for 2023 have been canceled, serving as a symbolic reflection of the current situation. Local officials have expressed that there is less to celebrate this year. Renan Marinho, a pastor who recently moved to Florida after preaching in Wisconsin, is focusing on taking faith into the new year as he prepares for Christmas celebrations at his new nondenominational Christian church. He emphasizes that the holiday season is a manifestation of celebrating Jesus’ birth, but the true reflection begins as Christians enter the new year, bringing God with them.
Shai Mizrahi Nessim, a 26-year-old artist, reflects on how her holiday season is different this year. She wears a metal decal with the words “bring them back home” as a reminder of the importance of appreciating Hanukkah and longing for miracles to bring loved ones back. Nessim aims to honor her religion, promote unity, and lead with empathy during the holiday season, especially considering the challenges faced by everyone this year. She expresses solidarity with the Jewish Panamanian community, standing strong with Israel, the IDF, and all families mourning around the world, including innocent civilians, Palestinians included.
Ruben Garcia, the director of Annunciation House in El Paso, Texas, draws parallels between the Nativity story and the plight of immigrants seeking shelter before Jesus’ birth. He has been helping immigrants since 1978 and believes that Christmas and the New Year serve as an acknowledgment that God has allowed them to reach the United States. Annunciation House will continue to provide some rare comforts for people crossing the border, such as a meal with chicken, gifts for children, and blankets for adults. Garcia emphasizes the significance of these gestures for refugees who have often slept on the ground with nothing to cover themselves.
Roza Tawil, a lawyer with Palestinian roots, highlights the stark contrast between the holiday season’s luxuries and the basic needs of people in Gaza, such as water, antibiotics, and food. Tawil feels a sense of disconnection due to the extreme tragedy faced by Palestinians, which can make it difficult to empathize. Her family typically volunteers with Christmas festivities in the Holy Land, fostering camaraderie between Palestinian Muslims and Christians. However, this year, in solidarity with the conflict in Gaza, they will not be volunteering.
For Seph MacAndrew, who was raised in a nondenominational church, Christmas traditions hold importance beyond religion. They see the holiday as an opportunity to create meaningful moments with family, such as sharing laughter, watching movies, and distributing their father’s holiday tips as a postal carrier. MacAndrew, who identifies as queer, believes that these small personal traditions can help move away from a more capitalist, heteronormative, and religious celebration of Christmas towards a more individualized and meaningful one.
Roni Mosakowski’s holiday celebration is not extravagant, as she focuses on celebrating with her daughters while incorporating memories of her late husband, Sam. They honor his presence by decorating with ornaments featuring his pictures. Mosakowski’s oldest daughter, Sammy, takes the lead in memorializing her father during the holidays, keeping his stocking and filling it with new Christmas cards. They aim to strike a balance between honoring the past and creating new traditions that celebrate and include him.
Leela Harpur Heyder and Gunther Heyder, who recently became parents, are choosing to turn their Christmas gift into an experience and memory by traveling around New Zealand in a van with their 7-month-old daughter, Zahara. They value spending time together, being present, and enjoying nature. They believe in creating lasting and meaningful memories rather than waiting for moments to happen.
For Francisco Treviño, who runs a Hispanic cultural center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, traditional foods like tamales, buñuelos, and champurrado bring back childhood memories from Mexico. He aims to pass on these traditions to his community’s children, along with the significance of celebrating las posadas, which commemorates Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem. In Latin American countries, the holiday season lasts until January 6, known as Epiphany or Dia de los Reyes, when families exchange gifts to honor the gifts given to Jesus in the Nativity story.
Bryan Rub, a real estate entrepreneur, shares a story of hope during Hanukkah, where his local Jewish community gathered to pray and light the menorah. This tradition has been passed down for generations, and despite Bethlehem’s closure, unity in prayer remains a cherished gift this year. Amilcar Shabazz reflects on the importance of unity and what it truly means to stand firm in one’s beliefs. As he celebrates Kwanzaa, he invites others to consider what they are truly united around.
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