No room at the inn as Bethlehem celebrates Christmas
PTI | 07:12 PM,Dec 24,2011Bethlehem (Palestinian Territories), Dec 24 (AFP) Tens of thousands of Christians were flocking to Bethlehem today to celebrate Christmas following a year of political upheaval and change across the Arab world. As day broke on this not-so-little-town which lies just a few miles south of Jerusalem, locals were busily preparing to welcome thousands of pilgrims who want to see the spot where the Bible says Jesus was born to a couple from Nazareth. Hotels and guest houses across this ancient town perched on the hilltops were packed to capacity, Palestinian officials said, with more than 50,000 visitors from around the world expected to join in the festivities. "Hotels are full. We have no rooms left even though the number of hotel rooms has multiplied in the last three years," Palestinian tourism minister Khulud Daibes told AFP. "We expect up to 50,000 people to come in the next two days." This year's theme, she said, was "Palestine celebrating hope." Christmas Eve celebrations are all taking place in and around Manger Square, the central plaza next to the Church of the Nativity. The church is built over the site where Christians believe Mary gave birth to Jesus in a stable, and laid him in an animal's feeding trough, also known as a manger. Boy scouts with drums and bagpipes were to march through the town during the afternoon for the annual Christmas parade after which there would be concerts and other entertainment on what is the biggest tourist attraction of the year in the Palestinian territories. (MORE) (AFP)
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