VIDEO – As part of the festive cheer, Jerusalem’s municipality has been distributing free Christmas trees to happy locals in the Old City, with a friendly Santa walking up and down the walls urging Christians to pick one out from his collection.
Christian pilgrims have also been flocking to the ancient city, which is believed to be the site of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, and a range of festivities, including banquets, classical concerts and carol singing are taking place for visitors to enjoy, while Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is also expected to take part in the celebrations.
Three days before Christmas, in a showing of religious tolerance, Christian and Muslim representatives from Jerusalem sung Christmas carols and distributed chocolate,
as they passed through the Israeli capital dressed in Santa Claus costumes.
Over the Christmas period Jerusalem takes a backseat to the Holy city of Bethlehem, which Christians believe was the birthplace of Jesus, while the city is home to one of the religion’s oldest communities and is a major tourist destination all year round due to its beauty and history.