And for round #2 of the Beit Sahour Christmas tree lighting post:
Back in the middle of December was the Beit Sahour Christmas tree lighting celebration. The best part of this post was supposed to be the movies, but it is taking forever to upload them, so you get just one.
Anyway. Beit Sahour is a small town of about 12,000, and the Christmas tree lighting ceremony is a big deal. I swear half the city was there!
They even had a live band (all locals, of course)!
The Boy and Girl Scouts band marched through the middle, playing Christmas songs and causing a general ruckus as the throngs of people had to move aside and clear a space large enough for them to walk through the middle of the crowd.
The head of the Greek Orthodox church here spoke, as did an official from the Palestinian Authority. Nothing like a little political speech to put me in the spirit of Christmas! This year's speech was, of course, about the UN vote and wanting to celebrate Christmas next year in peace, joy, and the free state of Palestine. (At least he mentioned Christmas, right?)
Sahar and I were getting really claustrophobic and had to make an escape from the massive crowds that were pushing in on all sides. After pushing through the crowds, we finally found refuge next to the politician's car, which was conveniently located in the middle of the throngs of people but had a security guard standing by to make sure no one got too close to the car, leaving a wide open space. Although he glared at us a couple of times, Sahar and I took up camp next to the car. We made sure not to touch it, so I guess he didn't mind too much!
As soon as they lit the tree, fireworks went off and Sahar and I high-tailed it out of there so we wouldn't get stuck in traffic. And that's probably the thing I like most about crowded events...you wait for 2 hours in a suffocating crowd, fight your way to the edge 5 minutes before the actual event (which in this case lasted 2 minutes), and then run out before it's over so you don't get stuck in traffic.
But isn't it beautiful?
Back in the middle of December was the Beit Sahour Christmas tree lighting celebration. The best part of this post was supposed to be the movies, but it is taking forever to upload them, so you get just one.
Anyway. Beit Sahour is a small town of about 12,000, and the Christmas tree lighting ceremony is a big deal. I swear half the city was there!
They even had a live band (all locals, of course)!
The Boy and Girl Scouts band marched through the middle, playing Christmas songs and causing a general ruckus as the throngs of people had to move aside and clear a space large enough for them to walk through the middle of the crowd.
The head of the Greek Orthodox church here spoke, as did an official from the Palestinian Authority. Nothing like a little political speech to put me in the spirit of Christmas! This year's speech was, of course, about the UN vote and wanting to celebrate Christmas next year in peace, joy, and the free state of Palestine. (At least he mentioned Christmas, right?)
Sahar and I were getting really claustrophobic and had to make an escape from the massive crowds that were pushing in on all sides. After pushing through the crowds, we finally found refuge next to the politician's car, which was conveniently located in the middle of the throngs of people but had a security guard standing by to make sure no one got too close to the car, leaving a wide open space. Although he glared at us a couple of times, Sahar and I took up camp next to the car. We made sure not to touch it, so I guess he didn't mind too much!
As soon as they lit the tree, fireworks went off and Sahar and I high-tailed it out of there so we wouldn't get stuck in traffic. And that's probably the thing I like most about crowded events...you wait for 2 hours in a suffocating crowd, fight your way to the edge 5 minutes before the actual event (which in this case lasted 2 minutes), and then run out before it's over so you don't get stuck in traffic.
But isn't it beautiful?
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