Thousands of people flocked to Nazareth for the Christmas season as the city where the human adventure of the Son of God started. Pilgrims and local visitors were both welcomed by different initiatives hoping to express better the real essence of Christmas especially to Jews and Moslem tourists. In the Basilica of the Annunciation, visitors were welcomed by a theatre performance from the Shalom community who artistically delivered the importance of Christmas. A festive Christmas concert was also held by the Basilica of Annunciation choir and musical ensemble on the 20th of December which aimed to celebrate the nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ. Various civic and religious organizations, and churches and participated the annual Christmas parade in Nazareth which gathered thousands of spectators all waiting for the creative floats and festive music. HABIB KARAM "We try to bring a message to everybody that this all is not because of Santa Claus and all that because of Jesus. And the reason for all these holidays is because of Jesus’ birth. So we concentrate on that in our parade." As the world looks towards Bethlehem in the celebration of the Nativity, locals and pilgrims solemnly attended the Christmas mass in Nazareth which was presided by the Custos of the Holy Land, Fr. Francesco Patton. Br FRANCESCO PATTON, ofm Custos of the Holy Land "The message of Nazareth is that we need to open our hearts so that the son of God can be born in our story. Let us never forget that the premise of Christmas is the annunciation which happened here in Nazareth. And let us never forget those conclusive words of the annunciation when Mary said to the angel, “Here I am, I am the servant of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” This is the message. It is needed that each one of us should be able to receive in a very personal, profound and with much faith the word of God that it becomes flesh inside of us."