Christmas celebrations peak in Bethlehem

JERUSALEM, Dec. 24 (UPI) -- Palestinians and pilgrims from around the world celebrated Christmas Eve side by side in Bethlehem, where Jesus Christ is believed to have been born.

While people were festive, and the music of drums and bagpipes filled the air, there was an undertone of seriousness as dozens of police, some carrying assault rifles, patrolled along with them, the Voice of America reported Monday.

Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah, the Roman Catholic Church's spiritual leader in the Holy Land, led a procession into the Church of the Nativity. He was accompanied by priests dressed in white chanting the Christmas liturgy.

"It's a more joyful Christmas," Bethlehem Mayor Victor Batarseh told VOA, giving credit to the renewed peace process and lull in violence. "We have more tourists, we have more pilgrims coming to the city of Bethlehem, twice as much as last year. All the hotels are booked."

Anne Nicholson of Alabama in the United States said she was "honored, privileged, humbled" to be there.

"My heart is just bursting with joy to be here," said Nicholson.

Palestinian Christian children celebrated by wearing festive costumes as they gathered outside the Church of the Nativity.

With the city's Manger Square decorated with Christmas trees and colorful balloons, the celebrations were set to culminate with midnight mass at the church.