of special significance to her a service of thanksgiving for the life of the duke of edinburgh, which, it has been announced, will take place at westminster abbey in the spring. nicholas witchell, bbc news. christmas eve celebrations have been taking place in bethlehem, including an annual procession led by the head of the roman catholic church in the region. the events will culminate in a mass starting injust under an hour at the church of the nativity, built on the spot where it s believed jesus was born. 0ur middle east correspondent tom bateman reports. in manger square, they wait for the biggest night of the year a christmas procession follows the route believed to have been taken by mary and joseph. it s a march of faith. but this season s greetings are mainly between the locals. the scout bands are a fixture of christmas in manger square and you can feel the energy.
it s a march of faith. but this season s greetings are mainly between the locals. the scout bands are a fixture of christmas in manger square and you can feel the energy. but what is missing are the international visitors and pilgrims that would usually be thronging the square here, and that is a devastating blow for the second year running because bethlehem needs tourism to keep surviving. the glimmers of tourism restarting last month have gone , derailed by border closures due to the new covid variant. people trying to find joy and happiness from nothing. so it s very interesting, very impressive. since the beginning of 2020, everything is closed, hotels are empty. it s very, very difficult -
tom bateman reports. in manger square, they wait for the biggest night of the year. a christmas procession follows the route believed to have been taken by mary and joseph. it s a march of faith. but this season s greetings are mainly between the locals. the scout bands are a fixture of christmas in manger square and you can feel the energy. but what is missing are the international visitors and pilgrims that would usually be thronging the square here, and that is a devastating blow for the second year running because bethlehem needs tourism to keep surviving. the glimmers of tourism restarting last month have gone, derailed by border closures due to the new covid variant. people trying to find joy and happiness from nothing. so it s very interesting, very impressive. since the beginning of 2020,
a christmas procession follows the route believed to have been taken by mary and joseph. it s a march of faith. but this season s greetings are mainly between the locals. the scout bands are a fixture of christmas in manger square and you can feel the energy. but what is missing are the international visitors and pilgrims that would usually be thronging the square here, and that is a devastating blow for the second year running because bethlehem needs tourism to keep surviving. the glimmers of tourism restarting last month have gone, derailed by border closures due to the new covid variant. people trying to find joy and happiness from nothing. so it s very interesting, very impressive. since the beginning of 2020, everything is closed. all hotels are empty. it s very, very difficult - for people especially those who are working i in tourism sector. they are selling somej
at the church of the nativity, built on the spot where it s believed thatjesus was born. 0ur middle east correspondent tom bateman reports. in manger square, they wait for the biggest night of the year. a christmas procession follows the route believed to have been taken by mary and joseph. it s a march of faith. but this season s greetings are mainly between the locals. the scout bands are a fixture of christmas in manger square and you can feel the energy. but what is missing are the international visitors and pilgrims that would usually be thronging the square here, and that is a devastating blow for the second year running because bethlehem needs tourism to keep surviving. the glimmers of tourism restarting last month have gone, derailed by border closures due to the new covid variant. people trying to find joy