Paul Calvert spoke to Mayor Vera Baboun

Mayor Vera Baboun

Bethlehem is the home of Christmas and the nativity. With about 25,000 visitors over the Christmas period, it is a focal point for Christians around the world and this year Paul Calvert spoke with Vera Baboun, the mayor of Bethlehem, about her Christmas message of the need for justice.

Paul: What special events do you have planned for Christmas?

Vera: Specifically the decoration for this Christmas were intrinsic to the message of Palestine, thus the colours that we put on our Christmas tree talks about the colours of our flag. Our message was justice and all our activities are related to make our voice heard, that if every Christmas we pass through we are in the same state of occupation, it is incredibly unfair. So apart from this, what was special this year is that we renovated the Nativity Square, or Manger Square. We have a new Christmas market from the 21st until the 24th in Star Street together with the Holy Land Trust plus eight cultural groups from the Palestinians in Nazareth and Haifa and I think other places like Jaffa. We have religious cultural activities and the main events, the religious events take place in the Manger Square, but all the other activities are taking place in the Catholic section.

Paul: So are you building Christmas bigger and stronger each year?

Vera: This is the most important thing. We believe that Bethlehem is the capital of Christmas and the capital of the nativity, so every year we are trying to build a bigger and a new dimension for our celebration. We want it to be global as well, that is why this year we added a new camera over our municipality building. All the events are 24 hours during December and by the way, the celebration of the lighting of the tree, more than 280,000 people watched our celebration through that webcam.

Paul: So you have just had the lighting ceremony with the tree and it was packed down there on Saturday. Do you know how many visitors came and how many visitors do you usually get over Christmas?

Vera: Over Christmas time usually 25,000 in the month of Christmas, but I don't have the final numbers.

Paul: How far in advance do you have to plan Christmas?

Vera: We start working as early as July or June. It takes a lot of effort. Let me concentrate on one very important fact, that the major events of Christmas, we as Bethlehem municipality don't have enough staff in our public relations office to do it, so every year the number increases and the nature of the celebration develops. You need budgeting, staff, different types of activities, decorating the streets and you need to decorate the tree itself, so a lot of effort is conducted there.

Paul: What does it cost to host Christmas?

Vera: I am talking about the celebrations and this year it exceeded $500,000.

Paul: Is it exciting for you when you see the lights go up in the old city and watching the tree go up in Manger Square?

Vera: It goes beyond excitement. Bethlehem is the city of the Christian message, so in its global and universal message you feel that you are telling the world that you are there for them and at the same time this feeling of excitement and connection to the world, it reflects a sense of commitment and victory.

Paul: I imagine it's a busy time for you, but do you get a chance to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas?