Follow in the Footsteps of the 3 Wise Men to Bethlehem. A Christmas Special. 1st of December

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1. The first of December

Long time ago in Bethlehem,
So the Holy Bible say
Marys boy child Jesus Christ,
Was born on Christmas day

Welcome to the first of December. This month I am making a Christmas Special just to get in the mood for the upcoming season. Today we will start with Bethlehem, where a child was born 2017 years ago.

An old map of Israel. and how to find the birthplace of Jesus

Bethlehem without the love of Jesus Christ
The birthplace of Jesus Christ 2017 years ago. It has changed a lot and many things have since shaped the town of Bethlehem and given the city much more history, but today this is where our story starts.

Even though Bethlehem was closed for tourists for a while due to the worsening Israeli-Arab relations, I was lucky to visit it during the time it was allowed.
Even if you are not a strong believer, it’s still worth visiting Bethlehem just to see the wall and everything that is painted on it. Bethlehem has few Jewish habitats, but the majority of the citizens are Muslim. Many locals live out of small shopping stalls in the market. The main attraction is, of course, the wall dividing Israel and Palestine. Many people have written words of love and peace on this wall and tried to express the feeling of powerlessness you feel when you see a country divided like this. Many have protested and fought for the destruction of the wall, yet it still stands.

We met a nice Muslim shop-owner on our walk along the wall. He had painted a huge part of the wall white. We asked him if it was a political message about peace. He replied with a cheeky smile: ‘No but I like to watch my football games on the big screen’.

How to get here:
It is quite easy to get to Bethlehem. You just catch the local bus leaving the bus station outside Damascus Gate in Jerusalem. Everyone in the bus station is helpful and nice. Important! Remember, bring your passport, because Bethlehem is located in Palestine, and guards check firmly before letting anyone back in Israel.



Where Jesus Were Born
The reason we are here, of course, was to find the birthplace of Jesus Christ. We wanted to observe for our self where Christians all over the world believe Jesus to be born. We had previously visited the two places in Jerusalem that both claims to be the last resting place of Christ, one for the Catholics, the Chruch of the Holy Sepulchre, and one for the Protestants, the Garden Tomb, both located in Jerusalem.

On the way to the birthplace, you get a beautiful stroll across the city before you end in front of
the Cathedral Church of the Nativity, around the time where the priests started mass (check online). Visiting the church will certainly leave an impression due to its magnificence. In the church, you get a candle and have the option to follow the processions into the underground caves where Christ sat many years ago. It is a spiritual affair and adventure even for non-believers you cannot help but feel the presence of greatness.

Besides the walk along the wall, visit the Church of the Nativity and take a look at the flea markets. Bethlehem is also home to the Palestinian Heritage Center, which aims to promote art. Therefore, if you are an art lover, it could be a good idea to visit the center and enjoy the interesting pieces of art.

We are hoping for peace in the Middle East for Christmas. Happy 1st of December and the countdown to Christmas.



Cathedral Church of the Nativity

Cathedral Church of the Nativity

The service is starting

Cathedral Church of the Nativity

The procession is starting


We are following the procession into the holiest

The Procession is in the cribt


Where Jesus was born



* All photos are private and taken by me.
Location: Bethlehem

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