The sound of the drums, the bagpipes...a crowd in celebration welcomes the Custos of the Holy Land. The day when people start waiting for Christmas is marked by important gestures: the gates of the wall are opened to let a long convoy of cars pass by, the Custos advances on foot among the people, carrying through the streets of the city the fragment of the relic of the manger arrived a few days earlier from Rome. It is a great feast in Bethlehem. Br IMAD KAMEL, ofm Parochial vicar of Bethlehem "In these times, the local Christians always want to celebrate as much as they can to express the joy of the coming of Jesus in our land, in our parish and in our hearts." ANTON SALMAN Mayor of Bethlehem "It's a celebration. The faith of the people is very much alive and practised. The fact that a part of the manger has returned here to the Holy Land was an important event, which everyone here was waiting for." The relic returns for a moment to the cave of the Nativity... the first Advent candle lights up. Br RAMI ASAKRIEH, ofm Parish priest of Bethlehem "During this period of Advent and Christmas, Bethlehem is always celebrating for two months. Despite the political situation, and economic difficulties, Christmas gives life, hope and joy." On this special day, there are also groups of young Europeans at the Basilica of the Nativity. They are here for a few days' experience, together with their peers who live in different cities in the Holy Land. RAFI GHATTAS Jerusalem - Youth of the Land of Jesus "As a person who lives here in the Holy Land, a land that cries every day because of the political situation, there is nothing else we pray for, except for peace." EMANUELA GITTO Italy - Italian Catholic Action "Through their experience, their testimony, we too go back to the roots of our faith. Sharing the first Sunday of Advent here in Bethlehem made us feel a very strong emotion: it reminds us of the hope that is the foundation of our faith." Read More