The experience of going to Bethlehem is fascinating .... yes, exactly the city mentioned in the Bible as the place of origin of King David and even more importantly, the birthplace of the Prince of Peace! 
 It is located ten kilometres from Jerusalem ... To enter it is necessary to cross a "check point" because, since 2002, a wall separates - and distances - the two cities. Here there are about 25 thousand inhabitants ... One of them is Dima, a girl who is proud to be a fellow citizen of Baby Jesus!

 DIMA MSALLAM
 International relations  "I live in the same land where Jesus, Baby Jesus was born, the one who became man to approach me as a sinner, to make me know him better. To me this land is very holy. The fact that I am from Bethlehem and that the Lord has chosen to be born here means a lot in spiritual terms and for the history of the place! I thank God for this gift (...) "

 Tourists and craftsmen move the local economy ... with a special mention for mother-of-pearl and olive wood objects. 
 
ROMY TABASH Trader "Our shop, located near the manger, was opened in 1927 by my grandfather. Then my father took over and then I did with my brother. We are, therefore, the third generation (...). Many families work, even at home, with wood and mother-of-pearl ... Many artists make cribs, rosaries and other objects "

 Christians represent only 40% of the local population. Catholics are five thousand. The other Christians are Greek Orthodox, Armenians, Syriac-Orthodox, Copts and Lutherans ".
 
The majority of the population is Muslim, and even so, among the mosques, church towers prevail ... and obviously, what stands out the most is the Basilica of the Nativity which houses the Grotto where Mary gave birth to the Saviour of the World.

 
DIMA MSALLAM 
International Relations "God is in the whole world, but here I would say that it is something mysterious, It leads us to reflect, to pray more, to be ourselves ... Jesus, who came here, became man, child like us .. because we try to be like him, to imitate him, always ... So living in this land, going to pray in the Church of the Nativity is a gift that nobody can buy with money, it is the greatest gift that Jesus has given me ".


 Here it’s Christmas everyday, but it is obvious that at this time of the year Bethlehem is decorated differently. The shops’ windows display beautiful items that remind us of the holiday we will celebrate in a few days!

 ROMY TABASH Trader 
"We feel that in Bethlehem it's really Christmas every day! (...) The most beautiful aspects of Christmas are Baby Jesus and the nativity scene. The Baby Jesus we make here in Bethlehem, the ceramic one and also the olive wood crib, of which we have many variations depending on the artist who makes it: modern, stylised, not stylised, it depends on the inspiration of the artist! ".

 The truth and the beauty are remarkable ... they are tangible representations of what happened here and is celebrated all over the world!

 DIMA MSALLAM
 International relations "I wish everyone peace and joy from the Holy Land and I invite everyone to get to know Baby Jesus, not only the one that comes from Bethlehem - of course, here it is special and I invite you to come here - because Jesus also comes to your home in Brazil, all over the world".