Hundreds gather for Christmas tree lighting ceremony in Bethlehem to mark start of festive season

The traditional lighting of the Christmas tree ceremony was underway Saturday night as hundreds gathered at Manger Square outside the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem in the Israeli-occupied West Bank to celebrate the start of the holiday season.

The giant tree was illuminated by hundreds of golden-white bulbs as fireworks lit up the night sky.

Bethlehem is renowned as the birthplace of Jesus and attracts thousands of tourists and Christian pilgrims in the festive Christmas time and the city authorities make the lighting of the tree into one of the most memorable celebrations of the year.

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