After 2 Years of War, Nazareth’s Christmas Visitors Return
Nazareth, the Israeli city best known as the historical birthplace of Jesus, was eerily quiet for the past two years as the war in Gaza and against Hezbollah claimed yet another casualty: seasonal tourism.
The Media Line’s Gabriel Colodro, in Christmas Returns to Nazareth, Marking a Gradual Revival of the City’s Christian Tourism, documents the return of visitors this December along with the bright lights, food and festivities that mark the season.
In recent evenings, crowds have gathered around a large Christmas tree near the city’s churches, with food stalls, handicrafts and seasonal music spreading through the Old City and nearby neighborhoods.
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Residents embrace the end of a period of near-halt in tourism, with the double-edged sword of the COVID years followed by the war.
This year’s celebrations are less centralized. Instead of a single central fair, markets and performances are spread across multiple locations, many organized by local associations and businesses.
One major hotel has turned its courtyard into a Christmas market that draws thousands of visitors on peak days, offering an alternative to the crowded city center and encouraging longer stays.
Government and tourism officials have used the season to reintroduce Nazareth to travelers, emphasizing not only its religious sites but also its food, markets and everyday urban life.
Nazareth’s Christian focus remains the Basilica of the Annunciation, where visitors continue to line up during December. While international pilgrim numbers are still below prewar levels, local tourism has returned in visible ways. For many residents, the simple presence of families, lights and open cafés is a sign that the city is beginning to welcome the season and its visitors back.
