The typically bustling biblical birthplace of Jesus resembled a ghost town Sunday after Christmas Eve celebrations in Bethlehem were called off due to the Israel-Hamas war. The festive lights and Christmas tree that normally decorate Manger Square were missing, as were the throngs of foreign tourists and jubilant youth marching bands that gather in the West Bank town each year to mark the holiday. Dozens of Palestinian security forces patrolled the empty square. "This year, without the Christmas tree and without lights, there's just darkness," said Brother John Vinh, a Franciscan monk from Vietnam who has lived in Jerusalem for six years. Vinh said he always comes to Bethlehem to mark Christmas, but this year was especially sobering. He gazed at a nativity scene in Manger Square with a baby Jesus wrapped in a white shroud, reminiscent of the thousands of children killed in the fighting in Gaza. A weekend of combat in Gaza kills more than a dozen Israeli soldiers, a sign of Hamas' entrenchment Barbed wire surrounded the scene, the grey rubble reflecting none of the joyous lights and bursts of color that normally fill the square during the Christmas season. Cold, rainy weather added to the grim mood. The cancellation of Christmas festivities was a severe blow to the town's economy. Tourism accounts for an estimated 70% of Bethlehem's income — almost all of that during the Christmas season. With many major airlines canceling flights to Israel, few foreigners are visiting. Local officials say over 70 hotels in Bethlehem were forced to close, leaving thousands of people unemployed. Gift shops were slow to open on Christmas Eve, although a few did once the rain had stopped pouring down. There were few visitors, however. "We can't justify putting out a tree and celebrating as normal, when some people (in Gaza) don't even have houses to go to," said Ala'a Salameh, one of the owners of Afteem Restaurant, a family-owned falafel restaurant just steps from the square. Salameh said Christmas Eve is usually the busiest day of the year. "Normally, you can't find a single chair to sit, we're full from morning till midnight," said Salameh. On Sunday morning, just one table was taken, by journalists taking a break from the rain. Under a banner that read "Bethlehem's Christmas bells ring for a cease-fire in Gaza," a few teenagers offered small inflatable Santas, but no one was buying. Instead of their traditional march through the streets of Bethlehem, young scouts stood silently with flags. A group of local students unfurled a massive Palestinian flag as they stood in silence. Israeli strike kills 76 members in one Gaza family, rescue officials say as combat expands in south An organist with the Church of the Nativity choir, Shukry Mubarak, said the group changed much of the traditional Christmas musical repertoire from joyful holiday songs to more solemn hymns in minor keys. "Our message every year on Christmas is one of peace and love, but this year it's a message of sadness, grief and anger in front of the international community with what is happening and going on in the Gaza Strip," Bethlehem's mayor, Hana Haniyeh, said in an address to the crowd. Dr. Joseph Mugasa, a pediatrician, was one of the few international visitors. He said his tour group of 15 people from Tanzania was "determined" to come to the region despite the situation. "I've been here several times, and it's quite a unique Christmas, as usually there's a lot of people and a lot of celebrations," he said. "But you can't celebrate while people are suffering, so we are sad for them and praying for peace." More than 20,000 Palestinians have been killed and more than 50,000 wounded during Israel's air and ground offensive against Gaza's Hamas rulers, according to health officials there, while some 85% of the territory's 2.3 million residents have been displaced. The war was triggered by Hamas' deadly assault Oct. 7 on southern Israel in which militants killed about 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and took more than 240 hostages. The Gaza war has been accompanied by a surge in West Bank violence, with some 300 Palestinians killed by Israeli fire. The fighting has affected life across the Israeli-occupied territory. Since Oct. 7, access to Bethlehem and other Palestinian towns in the West Bank has been difficult, with long lines of motorists waiting to pass military checkpoints. The restrictions have also prevented tens of thousands of Palestinians from exiting the territory to work in Israel. UN again delays vote on watered-down Gaza aid resolution Amir Michael Giacaman opened his store, "Il Bambino," which sells olive wood carvings and other souvenirs, for the first time since Oct. 7. There have been no tourists, and few local residents have money to spare because those who worked in Israel have been stuck at home. "When people have extra money, they go buy food," said his wife, Safa Giacaman. "This year, we're telling the Christmas story. We're celebrating Jesus, not the tree, not Santa Claus, she said, as their daughter Mikaella ran around the deserted store. The fighting in Gaza was on the minds of the small Christian community in Syria, which is coping with a civil war now in its 13th year. Christians said they were trying to find joy, despite the ongoing strife in their homeland and in Gaza. "Where is the love? What have we done with love?" said the Rev. Elias Zahlawi, a priest in Yabroud, a city about 80 kilometers (50 miles) north of Damascus. "We've thrown God outside the realm of humanity and unfortunately, the church has remained silent in the face of this painful reality." Some tried to find inspiration in the spirit of Christmas. Latin Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa, arriving from Jerusalem for the traditional procession to the Church of the Nativity, told the sparse crowd that Christmas was a "reason to hope" despite the war and violence. The pared-down Christmas was in keeping with the original message of the holiday and illustrated the many ways the community is coming together, said Stephanie Saldaña, who is originally from San Antonio, Texas, and has lived in Jerusalem and Bethlehem for the past 15 years with her husband, a parish priest at the St Joseph Syriac Catholic Church. "We feel Christmas as more real than ever, because we're waiting for the prince of peace to come. We are waiting for a miracle to stop this war," Saldaña said.

Christmas, celebrated worldwide, is more than just a festive occasion; it embodies profound teachings that resonate with millions. As we approach Christmas 2023, let us reflect on the invaluable lessons this sacred festival imparts, transcending mere celebration and highlighting values that enrich our lives and communities. 10 Lessons of Christmas Love and Compassion The essence of Christmas lies in Jesus' message of unconditional love and kindness. This festival urges us to extend our hearts in compassion and understanding towards everyone, especially those in need. It's a perfect opportunity to instill in young minds the importance of empathy, tolerance, and sharing. Christmas 2023 beckons us to embrace these virtues more than ever, fostering a world filled with kindness and care. Read more: 5 Christmas Dinner Recipes for Bangladeshi Kitchen Generosity and Giving The tradition of exchanging gifts during Christmas symbolizes the spirit of generosity. It’s not confined to material presents but encompasses acts of kindness like inviting a lonely neighbor for a meal or donating to those less fortunate. Christmas 2023 is a reminder that the joy of giving is the essence of the festival, making the smallest gestures of kindness truly special.

As the festive season draws near, the crisp, cool winds stir a sense of joy and celebration. Netflix, a leading OTT platform, becomes a treasure trove of holiday entertainment, especially during this cheerful time. This year, the streaming giant once again enthralls its audience with a captivating selection of English-language Christmas movies and series from its 2023 line-up. 2023's must-watch English Christmas movies and series on Netflix The Claus Family 3 The Claus Family 3, a continuation of the 2020 movie The Claus Family, tells the story of Jules, a young boy destined to inherit Santa's legacy. Released on Netflix on November 8, 2023, and directed by Ruben Vandenborgh, this film concludes the Claus family trilogy. It depicts Santa's looming retirement and the family's challenges that follow. The cast includes Mo Bakker, Dieter Hallervord, Jan Decleir, and Tanja Jess. The movie follows Jules as he gears up to take over his grandfather's role as Santa, amidst disruptions caused by a mischievous toymaker. Will the Claus family uphold the holiday spirit in this heartwarming finale? Read more: ‘Wonka’ review: Powered by the charisma of Timothée Chalamet Best. Christmas. Ever! This film, directed by Mary Lambert and released on November 16, 2023, revolves around the unexpected reunion of Jackie and Charlotte during the holiday season. Featuring Heather Graham, Jason Biggs, and Candice King, the story unfolds with Jackie sending a boastful annual newsletter to Charlotte. This year, however, Charlotte shows up at Jackie's door, leading to comedic revelations and a journey of embracing the unexpected joys of Christmas. Family Switch Released on November 30, 2023, and directed by Joseph McGinty Nichol, "Family Switch" is a comedy about two rival families, the Kellers and the Johnsons, who accidentally switch bodies during a unique planetary alignment. Starring Jennifer Garner, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Maya Rudolph, and Ed Helms, the movie combines humor with heartfelt messages of empathy and understanding, making it an ideal family-friendly Christmas comedy. Read more: Chorki sets tongues wagging with reveal of first-ever Raihan Rafi-Shakib Khan collaboration The Bad Guys: A Very Bad Holiday This half-hour CG animated special, a prequel to the 2022 film "The Bad Guys," was released on November 30, 2023. Directed by Bret Haaland, it features the voices of Michael Godere, Ezekiel Ajeigbe, Raul Ceballos, Chris Diamantopoulos, and Mallory Low. The special follows the criminal crew from the original movie as they navigate holiday hurdles, encounter mischievous reindeer, and rediscover the true spirit of Christmas.

Ukrainians usually celebrate Christmas on Jan. 7, as do the Russians. But not this year, or at least not all of them. Some Orthodox Ukrainians have decided to observe Christmas on Dec. 25, like many Christians around the world. Yes, this has to do with the war, and yes, they have the blessing of their local church. The idea of commemorating the birth of Jesus in December was considered radical in Ukraine until recently, but Russia’s invasion changed many hearts and minds. In October, the leadership of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, which is not aligned with the Russian church and one of two branches of Orthodox Christianity in the country, agreed to allow faithful to celebrate on Dec. 25. The choice of dates has clear political and religious overtones in a nation with rival Orthodox churches and where slight revisions to rituals can carry potent meaning in a culture war that runs parallel to the shooting war. Read more: A Christmas season without its traditional glow in Ukraine For some people, changing dates represents a separation from Russia, its culture, and religion. People in a village on the outskirts of Kyiv voted recently to move up their Christmas observance. “What began on Feb. 24, the full-scale invasion, is an awakening and an understanding that we can no longer be part of the Russian world,” Olena Paliy, a 33-year-old Bobrytsia resident, said. The Russian Orthodox Church, which claims sovereignty over Orthodoxy in Ukraine, and some other Eastern Orthodox churches continue to use the ancient Julian calendar. Christmas falls 13 days later on that calendar,, or Jan. 7, than it does on the Gregorian calendar used by most church and secular groups. The Catholic Church first adopted the modern, more astronomically precise Gregorian calendar in the 16th century, and Protestants and some Orthodox churches have since aligned their own calendars for purposes of calculating Christmas. The Synod of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine decreed in October that local church rectors could choose the date along with their communities, saying the decision followed years of discussion but also resulted from the circumstances of the war. In Bobrytsia, some members of the faith promoted the change within the local church, which recently transitioned to being part of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, with no ties to Russia. When a vote was taken last week, 200 out of 204 people said yes to adopting Dec. 25 as the new day to celebrate Christmas. “This is a big step because never in our history have we had the same dates of celebration of Christmas in Ukraine with the whole Christian world. All the time we were separated,” said Roman Ivanenko, a local official in Bobrytsia, and one of the promoters of the change. With the switch, he said, they are “breaking this connection” with the Russians. “The church is Ukrainian, and the holidays are Ukrainian,” said Oleg Shkula, a member of the volunteer territorial defense force in the district that includes the village. For him, his church doesn’t have to be linked to “darkness and gloom and with the anti-christ, which Russia is today.” Read more: Russia scrubs Mariupol's Ukraine identity, builds on death In 2019, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the spiritual leader of the Eastern Orthodox Church, granted complete independence, or autocephaly, to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. Ukrainians who favored recognition for a national church in tandem with Ukraine’s political independence from the former Soviet Union had long sought such approval. The Russian Orthodox Church and its leader, Patriarch Kirill, fiercely protested the move, saying Ukraine was not under the jurisdiction of Bartholomew. The other major branch of Orthodoxy in the country, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, remained loyal to Moscow until the outbreak of war. It declared independence in May, though it remains under government scrutiny. That church has traditionally celebrated Christmas on Jan. 7.

The Christian community is celebrating Christmas in the country, as elsewhere across the world, this morning amid festivities and enthusiasm. Christmas, the biggest religious festival of the Christians, is annually celebrated all over the world on the 25th of December — commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ. It is a time when family, friends and relatives get together to celebrate the day with colourful lights and Christmas trees decorated at homes. Read more: Law enforcers ready to face any situation over Christmas: IGP

The weekend melding with Christmas falling on Sunday this year, translating to a 'long weekend', has brought life to the country's tourism sectors including Sajek Valley. At the same time, it has also brought suffering to the tourists who have gone to enjoy the scenic beauty of Sajek valley. Thousands of holidaymakers of all ages have thronged to the hill district to enjoy the beauty of Sajek at Bagaichhori in Rangamati. Resorts are experiencing a room crunch as more tourists enter Sajek - already almost double its capacity! As a result, many tourists are forced to spend the night in cars or in mosques and local clubs. Sultan Mia, 28, who came with his family from Mymensingh and Ashraf Ali, a tourist from Netrakona, said that they had come because of their children's holidays. But there is no room vacant in any hotel due to the overflow of tourists, leaving them in great trouble. Alfred Lusai, the owner of two Sajek resorts (Neel Pahari and Morning Star), said that rooms were booked almost a month before Christmas. Today, many tourists can't get even a single room which is really sad, he added. Read more: Jhum fire destroying reserved forest in Sajek According to Sajek Resort Owners Association, almost 7,000 tourists entered Sajek on Saturday. The valley's 112 cottages can accommodate only 4,000. Many of the tourists who came here did not have advance bookings. As a result, many tourists returned in the afternoon due to lack of rooms for overnight stay, sources added. Those who stayed are passing the night by renting rooms on the verandas of various cottages and in the homes of local residents. Subrata Chakma, manager of Khasrang Hill Resort, said that the inflow of tourists started on Wednesday. No rooms are available at any resort currently, he added. Read more: Visit Sajek Valley: Amazing Hilltop Cottages, Resorts, to Spend Your Vacation

The biblical town of Bethlehem marked what was shaping up to be a merry Christmas on Saturday, with thousands of visitors expected to descend upon the traditional birthplace of Jesus as it rebounds from the coronavirus pandemic. Tourism is the economic lifeblood of this town in the occupied West Bank, and for the past two years, the pandemic kept international visitors away. This year, visitors are back, hotels are full and shopkeepers have reported a brisk business in the runup to the holiday. “We are celebrating Christmas this year in a very much different way than last year,” said Palestinian Tourism Minister Rula Maayah. “We’re celebrating Christmas with pilgrims coming from all over the world.” At midafternoon, hundreds of people packed the Christmas Eve celebrations in Manger Square. Marching bands pounding on drums and playing bagpipes paraded through the area, and foreign tourists meandered about and snapped selfies with the town’s large Christmas tree behind them. Cool gray weather, along with an occasional rain shower, did little to dampen spirits. Daisy Lucas, a 38-year-old Filipina who works in Israel, said it was a dream come true to mark the holiday in such an important place. “As a Christian walking in the places in the Bible, it’s so overwhelming,” she said. ’This is the birthplace of Jesus Christ. As a Christian, that’s one achievement that’s on my bucket list.” Read more: A Christmas season without its traditional glow in Ukraine Latin Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the top Roman Catholic clergyman in the Holy Land, arrived from Jerusalem through a checkpoint in Israel’s West Bank separation barrier. “We are living in very difficult challenges,” he said, noting the war in Ukraine and a recent wave of Israeli-Palestinian violence. “But the message of Christmas is a message of peace.” “It’s possible to change things,” he added. “We will be very clear in what we have to do and what we have to say in order to preserve the importance of unity and reconciliation among all.” Pizzaballa walked through Manger Square, waving to well-wishers. Later, he was to celebrate Midnight Mass in the nearby Church of the Nativity, built on the spot where Christians believe Jesus was born. Billions of Christians were ushering in the holiday, wrapping up a tumultuous year characterized by conflict and violence in many parts of the world. In war-ravaged Ukraine, the glitzy lights normally spread over over Kyiv’s Sophia Square are missing due to restrictions and power cuts. Instead, a modest tree decorated with blue and yellow lights barely break the gloom of the square. Mayor Vitali Klitschko has called it the “ Tree of Invincibility.” In the United States, a wild winter storm continued to envelop much of the country, bringing blinding blizzards, freezing rain, flooding and life-threatening cold that created mayhem for those traveling for the holiday. Read more: Christmas celebrations tomorrow Present-day reality was visible at Manger Square as banners showing photos of Palestinian prisoner Nasser Abu Hamid were prominently displayed. The veteran prisoner died of cancer last week in an Israeli prison clinic after spending some 20 years behind bars for his conviction in the deaths of seven Israelis.    

The Christian community in Bangladesh is all set to celebrate Christmas, as elsewhere across the world, on Sunday to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ.Christmas, the biggest religious festival of the Christians, is the celebration of rebirth, a new beginning, forgiveness and peace, and renewing relationship with God and fellow human beings. Decoration of Christmas trees with colourful lights, special prayers, giving gifts to children and exchange of pleasantries are the main features of the day's festivities. Christmas carols and hymns will be sung before and after the prayer sessions at the churches across the country. President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages on Christmas eve Saturday.   Read more: Christmas day being observed President Abdul Hamid wished: “May Christmas bring endless joy and welfare to everyone including the Christian community. May everyone's life be filled with happiness and prosperity.”  The Prime Minister wished peace, welfare and prosperity to all citizens including the Christian community on the eve and urged for collective effort from all for making a prosperous, non-communal and peaceful nation.  The President will host a reception at Bangabhaban on the occasion on Sunday evening. Secretaries, military officials and distinguished persons of the Christian community, religious leaders and professionals will join the reception. Later, President Abdul Hamid along with the guests will join a tea party.  Read more: Christmas Day being celebrated Bangladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar and private TV channels and radio stations will air special programmes highlighting the significance of the day.

Just a year ago, Sophia Square in Kyiv was all about the big Christmas tree and thousands of lights spreading over the plaza. These final days of 2022, in the middle of a war that has ravaged the country for 10 months, a more modest tree stands there, its blue and yellow lights barely breaking the gloom of the square that is otherwise dark apart from the headlights of cars. In recent months, Russia has been targeting the energy infrastructure, aiming to cut electricity and heating to Ukrainians, as the freezing winter advances. And although the Ukraine government tries to move as fast as it can, it’s been practically impossible to restore power for every single person in the country, including the more than 3 million residents of the capital. There are days when streets in Kyiv’s downtown have light, but the authorities have imposed some restrictions and scheduled power cuts, meaning that there’s no traditional gleaming city during the Christmas season. But even in these gloomy moments, some people have decided to show their determination and rescue whatever they can these holidays — like the Christmas tree, still standing proud even if it doesn’t have the brightness of recent years. Kyiv’s Mayor, Vitali Klitschko, announced the installation of the Christmas tree, saying it was going to be named the “Tree of Invincibility.” “We decided that we wouldn’t let Russia steal the celebration of Christmas and New Year from our children,” he said. The name, he added, was “because we Ukrainians cannot be broken.” Read more: Ukraine president again presses West for advanced weapons The “Tree of Invincibility” was inaugurated on Dec. 19, the same day that Russia launched a drone attack against Kyiv, but damaged only a power plant that didn’t caused a massive blackout in the city. Unlike previous years, when along with the tens of thousands of bulbs, Sophia Square was full of music and cheerful people, now the only noise on the plaza is the sound of a generator powering the lights of the 12-meter (40 foot) tree. On top of it, there is no star of Bethlehem’s but instead a trident, Ukraine’s symbol. Before Kyiv’s government decided to install the tree, there was some debate about whether it was appropriate in a year that brought so many tragedies and horrors. Similar discussions happened all across the country, and some regions decided not have trees. But now, some people do like the initiative. “We are grateful that we can see at least something in such times,” said Oleh Skakun, 56, during the unveiling of the tree on Monday. He said that every Dec. 19, his wife’s birthday, they used to go to see the Christmas tree in the southern city of Kherson, not far from their home. Not this year, because their house, on the left bank of the Dnieper river, is occupied by Russian forces, and they had to flee in August to Kyiv. But despite their sadness, Skakun said that they wanted to keep the tradition of visiting a Christmas tree. “Twenty Russians live in my house now; they tortured people, they tortured my son,” said Larysa Skakun, 57. “But we came here to cheer up a bit, to see the people, the celebration”, she added in tears. Among other cities that also decided to install a Christmas tree is Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city that for months was on the edges of the front line and constantly attacked by Russian missiles. There, instead of placing it on a square, it has been erected inside the main subway station. But for some Ukrainians, it’s hard to celebrate anything this Christmas. Read more: Putin in Belarus, eyeing next steps in Ukraine war Anna Holovina, 27, came to Sophia Square to see the tree, but said that she keeps thinking of her hometown in the Luhansk region, occupied by Russian forces since 2014. “I feel sadness. I feel pain. I don’t feel the holiday at all,” she said. “My family is in Kyiv, but my hometown has been occupied for the eighth year now.”

Christmas is a religious and cultural annual festival of the Christian community that is celebrated every year on 25th December. Christian people around the world celebrate the day to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ, who Christians believe is the Son of God. Any celebration and festival cannot be enjoyed properly without healthy, yummy, and cozy food items. Let’s find out 5 delicious Christmas Dinner recipes to enjoy with your family.  5 Christmas Dinner Main Course Recipes Vegetable and Chicken Skewers Recipe Ingredients 400 gm chicken breasts, 240 gm onion, 240 gm yellow bell pepper, 5 gm oregano, salt as required, 240 gm zucchini, 240 gm red bell pepper, 5 gm powdered black pepper, 150 ml virgin olive oil, lemon wedges as required, bamboo sticks Cooking Methods First, dive the bamboo sticks into the water for at least 10 minutes. Then cut the chicken and vegetables. Cut all the vegetables into 1’’ square pieces. Now take a large bowl and put olive oil, salt, crushed black paper, and oregano herbs and mix them well. Then marinate the chopped vegetables and chicken in such a way that all the pieces are coated well. Marinate them not for a long time just for 5-6 minutes. Read More: 5 Scrumptious Chicken Wing Recipes. Preheat the grill or oven. Now take the bamboo sticks and put the chicken pieces and veggies into the bamboo skewers. Cook the skewers on preheated grill or oven as long as the vegetables and chicken are tender. Cook well on both sides and make sure you prevent burning. Garnish with lemon wedges.