BETHLEHEM, West Bank (AP) – Bethlehem began on Thursday, the eve of Christmas, with an influx of cheerful marching bands and the triumphant arrival of the top Catholic priest in the Holy Land, but few came there to welcome him as a coronavirus epidemic and one. Celebrations got wet with a strict lockdown in the traditional birthplace of Jesus.
Similar defeated scenes were repeated around the world as festive family gatherings and filled prayers that specifically mark the holiday were scaled back or canceled altogether.
Australia In Australia, devotees booked tickets online for socially spaced church services. Mass gatherings are banned in the Philippines and extended families are barred from having dinner on the traditional Christmas Eve. Traditional home carols for children were canceled.
On the eve of Christmas in Italy, the church’s lls rang earlier than usual. The Italian government’s 10 a.m. curfew told pastors to resume services, with the “Midnight” Mass starting a few hours after dark with some churches starting on Thursday evening. Pope Francis, who said people should “follow” the actions of civil authorities to combat the spread of COVID-19, came to the line. This year, the St. Peter’s Basilica was moved from 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
In general, meetings on the Awakened Mass are quickly taken over by Romans and tourists, but the epidemic has reduced the number of tourists in Italy. Considering the measures of social distance, about 200 faithful – barely 200 faithful – in the basilica’s pu and wearing masks attended the celebration of the Mass of Francis. A row of burning red poinsettia plants contrasting basilica with warm marble cold marble
Francis politely reflected on the importance of Christmas. “We always hear that the greatest joy of life is the birth of a child. It’s something extraordinary and it changes everything, “he said. A child “can make us feel loved, but can also teach us how to love.”
“God was born to encourage us to care for others,” said Francis, who has taken care of the poor and unjustly kept the key to their poppy.
Elsewhere in Europe, celebrations were canceled or scaled down, as virus infections increased in the continent and a new type of infection that seemed more contagious was discovered.
In Athens, Christmas Eve was enthusiastically quiet. In normal times, the sounds of children singing carols can be heard all day while tinkling metal triangles. The decades-old custom, in which children go from house to house and receive small gifts, was banned this year. Groups of children succeeded in honoring this tradition by singing to Prime Minister Kirikos Mitsotakis via video link – a school for children with hearing impairments representing children in sign language.
During this epidemic, one of the most severely affected churches in New York City has been St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Manhattan. Church leaders say more than 60 members of the congregation – up from 800 before the epidemic – have died in COVID-19, part of almost all of the 400 communities that provided Spanish services.
Despite their heartbreaks, congregation members – many of them immigrants – have donated coats, scarves and other winter clothing to more than 100 migrant minors at a detention center in Manhattan.
Many other churches in New York City have resumed personal services, with St. Peters only continuing to offer its Mas Online Mass. The Christmas Eve and Christmas Day schedules include English and Spanish messes and bilingual jazz vasper service.
In Bethlehem, officers tried more and more to get out of the bad situation.
“Christmas is a holiday that renews hope in souls,” said Mayor Anton Salman. “Despite all the obstacles and challenges due to the Corona and the lack of tourism, the city of Bethlehem is still waiting for the future with optimism.”
The raw, rainy weather added to the gloomy atmosphere, as several dozen people gathered in Central Mager Square to greet the Latin head Pierre Batista Pizzaballa. Young marching bands, playing Christmas carols on bagpipes, accompanied by drummers, led a joyous procession ahead of their father’s arrival early in the afternoon.
“Despite the restrictions and limitations, we want to celebrate with as much family, community and fun as possible,” said Pizzaballa, who will lead a small ceremony late at night. “We want to offer hope.”
Thousands of foreign pilgrims usually come to Bethlehem to celebrate. But with Israel’s international airport closed to foreign tourists, along with Palestinian sanctions, intercity travel was banned in the Israeli-occupied West Bank in the areas they administer.
Restrictions limited the presence of residents and a small class of religious officials. The evening celebrations, when pilgrims usually gather around the Christmas tree, were canceled, and the midnight Mass was limited to the priests.
Bethlehem’s tourism sector has been hit hard by the coronavirus local economic lifestyle. Restaurants, hotels and gift shops are closed.
In Colombia, thousands of Venezuelan migrants are spending Christmas away from their families in obscure conditions. In recent years, many Venezuelans have returned home to visit relatives for the holidays. But the Colombian government has crossed the border with Vestinuela to slow the spread of COVD-19 infection. Those who try to return home for the holidays must pay for the smugglers to return to Colombia.
Leaving Venezuela two years ago to escape the country’s economic crisis, nurse Jacqueline Tamaur said there would be no gifts or new clothes for her two children, aged 10 and 15, this year. He lives in a small house in Bogota, away from the city center but can barely cover rent. You said she couldn’t find a job as a nurse because she didn’t have permission to stay yet. Her parents are still in Venezuela.
“My mother broke her leg and she can’t walk well so I’m worried about her,” you said. “I try to send her money, but it’s not like she’s there.”
Rio de Janeiro’s iconic beaches remained open, but a city hall decree restricting gatherings prevented drivers from parking on the shore. The rain also kept people on the beach at home.
Thomas Azevedo and his 9-year-old son broke the bad atmosphere to make a small stand ved bho, selling beer and caperinhas made from fresh fruit. By early afternoon, he hadn’t sold anything.
“Not so much rain; In previous years it was full of tourists at Christmas. No one is there this year, ”said Azevedo, 28.
The people of Austral Australia have been waiting for a relatively COVID-19-free Christmas recently after the state lifted travel bans in recent weeks in the absence of any evidence of community transition. But after new cases were found last week, states closed their borders again.
While many places around the world were keeping or raising restrictions for Christmas, Lebanon was an exception. With the port destroyed by the August 4 blast and its economy in parts of its capital, Lebanon has taken most of the virus measures before the holidays in hopes of boosting spending. Thousands of Lebanese foreigners have arrived home for the holidays, leading to fears of an inevitable increase in cases during the festive season.
Lebanon has the highest percentage of Christians in the Middle East – a third of its 5 million people – and traditionally celebrates Christmas with much fanfare.
“People around us were tired, frustrated and frustrated, so we said let’s just plant a drop of joy and love,” said Sevin Eris, one of the organizers of the Christmas fair on the beach, which suffered the most damage from the blast.
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Federman reported from Jerusalem. Associated press writers from around the world contributed.
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