Who is Christmas Actually For?
The disparity between mainstream celebrations and the current state of affairs.
As a Palestinian, I’m often struck by how frequently people ask me, “Where is Palestine?” When this question comes from a Christian, I’m even more perplexed because every year, they celebrate the birth of the Messiah in the Palestinian city of Bethlehem. My go-to response has become:
“Do you know Jesus?”
It’s an absurd question, designed to stop people in their tracks. It forces them to reconsider what they know—or think they know, and to ask:
“I know about Jesus and Christmas, so how do I not know about Palestine?”
The disconnect fascinates me. Jesus is one of the most recognised figures in human history, and yet, ‘Palestinian’ doesn’t seem to be a part of his modern-day branding.
Perhaps it’s because ‘Palestinian’ has become a loaded term. It conjures tragic images of Gaza, conflict, and humanity struggling under the weight of injustice. It has become a term that provokes debate, sympathy, or silence, depending on who hears it.
Linking Jesus with Christmas, however, evokes something else entirely. Michael Bublé’s comforting carols, the gentle glow of candlelight, and the endless reruns of Home Alone associate Jesus with positive Western traditions, severing him from the complexities of his Middle-Eastern identity and origins.
This growing gap between Christmas's aesthetic appeal and the historical significance of Jesus' birthplace is starkly evident in Bethlehem itself. For the past two years, the city’s celebrations have been muted due to the political situation. The lack of collective global response emphasises how detached the holiday has become from the very man whose birth it commemorates. In times like these, I can’t help but wonder: What would Jesus think?
If I have one Christmas wish this year,
it’s for us to bridge the divide between joyous festivities and the heartbreaking events in Palestine.
To truly honour the spirit of Christmas, we must connect our faith with our humanity, extending compassion not just to our loved ones, but to those who need it most. Because the greatest lesson of Christmas isn’t in the traditions we uphold, but in the empathy and justice we’re called to embody.
This was a fascinating read! The Westernisation of Jesus and disconnect between him and his Palestinian identity sadly reflects and contextualises the attitudes from some Western governments to the genocide in Gaza.
❤️