The ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict has led Bethlehem, the traditional birthplace of Jesus, to cancel its usual festivities and ceremonies for Christmas.

Pope Francis Calls for Peace : Pope Francis marked the start of Christmas celebrations with a plea for peace amidst ongoing conflicts. While people globally enjoyed the festive season, participating in various activities like races, surfing, jogging, and relaxing by the sea, the Pope expressed concerns about the impact of wars in places like Israel, Palestine, and Ukraine.

Across the world, children followed Santa Claus's journey using an interactive website. During his Christmas Eve mass, Pope Francis spoke somberly, mentioning Bethlehem, where Jesus Christ was born, highlighting how conflict still denies peace today. Bethlehem, in the occupied West Bank, scaled down its usual Christmas festivities due to the situation.

The Pope's message resonated, emphasizing the need for peace during a time traditionally associated with joy and goodwill.

Christmas celebrations Ukriane: For the first time this year, many Ukrainian Orthodox Christians are getting ready to celebrate Christmas on December 25th. Ukraine typically observed Christmas on January 7th, following the Julian calendar, similar to Russia. However, there's been a change as Ukraine has now aligned its Christmas celebration with the Western, or Gregorian, calendar that it uses in daily life, marking a departure from the Russian tradition.

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