Sunday 23 December 2018

Christmas in Israel

I love Christmas decorations and seeing the twinkling lights but you could walk the streets of Tel Aviv through December and not have an inkling that Santa was about to visit. If you are able to cross over in to Palestinian areas, there is of course the trek to Manger Square in Bethlehem and Christmas Eve Midnight Mass at the Church of the Nativity, plus there is an annual Christmas Parade, Christmas Market and Midnight Mass in the Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth. In the city where I live there is very little sign of the holiday, though I have heard Christmas pop songs on BBC Radio 2 on the Internet and sung along to Last Christmas (best Christmas song ever!). We recently celebrated Chanukah in our own home but that doesn't stop me from liking Christmas as well! I find it rather fun to sit at my desk and listen to the Christmas songs I remember from years gone by and am quite well versed in all the carols too, from my school days back in the UK.
Christmas trees at the Church of the Visitation, Ein Kerem, 2013.
I do have a papercut art business and some people, no matter where they live, still need Christmas cards. I personally send my handmade holiday cards to a few friends, while other people require cards to send to their clients abroad. After all, they are celebrating Christmas, even if we're not.
This year's cards have brightly coloured Christmas trees on them. It was fun to cut out the simple triangular shape of the tree and add some "twinkling" lights. My trees were not dissimilar to some of the trees I have spotted in Israel over the years, at the Church of the Visitation, Ein Kerem, at the YMCA in Jerusalem and more recently in the northern Israeli port city of Haifa.
Christmas trees at the YMCA in Jerusalem, 2016.
Happy holidays to you all and best wishes from the land where the Christmas story took place, even if there's no evidence of it on the streets! Thank you for all the support you have given me and my blogging adventure through another year. Please keep visiting.
Christmas tree in the German Colony, Haifa, 2017 (top) and 2018.

16 comments:

Anne said...

I love all the trees, both real and paper. It's strange to think of Christmas not being celebrated in the Country it was born. At least you have your memories.
Merry Christmas from the land of tinsel and lights where there is more belief in Santa than Jesus. xx

Jo said...

I love seeing different parts of the world at Christmas

Quinn said...

I put my balsam fir on the porch and added lights on Solstice - it is providing much "comfort and joy" :)
Best wishes to you and your for a wonderful holiday season!

VeggieMummy said...

I love your Christmas tree cards. My favourite cards are always the homemade ones. Wishing you and your family a happy holiday season and best wishes for 2019. xx

Tamar SB said...

So glad to know I am not the only Jew who loves all the Christmas bits!!

Carol @Comfort Spring Station said...

My late brother-in-law was Jewish and He loved Christmas trees and stockings. For many years we had a Passover dinner at his home and one Christian nephew at age 14 said Passover was his favorite holiday. I believe if we understand each other and our different holidays the world is a better place. Wishing you health and happiness! To Life! #MMBC

Phil Slade said...

Happy Christmas to you and to everyone in Israel. Stay safe.

David M. Gascoigne, said...

Happy Chanukah and Merry Christmas too.

Suzy said...

What a wonderful place to celebrate the birth of Jesus!!

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

it is always so very interesting to learn the customs and history of your country ...in a personal way . Thank you for sharing. (I feel it is sad that some people here in my country have such a narrow view of life. I don’t think it is sad that most people your country .... and some in mine ,,, dont celebrate Christmas. I like celebrating what is different as well as what is the same about all of us.).

Miss Val's Creations said...

Wonderful photos Lisa. Christmas does have some fantastic sing along tunes that I look forward to each year. Wishing you a happy, healthy, fulfilling 2019!

Jael said...

There it is,the Christmas tree in Jaffa:

betty-NZ said...

What terrific Christmas decorations!

Jibberjabberuk said...

In Sheffield the council always puts up decorations for the different religious festivals. I think it helps to bring everyone together.

Kim Carberry said...

It is so interesting to read about Christmas in different countries. I hope you had a good one. Happy new year. #MMBC

Cheryl said...

I love hearing how holidays are celebrated around the world and also how we celebrate each other's holidays too. There is hope. Hope you have a wonderful new year. #MMBC