Christmas food in Bethlehem

Answer 1

Bethlehem is in Palestine, in the West Bank, and is a mixed community of Christian and Muslim Palestinians.

In Bethlehem, we traditionally have roast lamb on a bed of spiced (nutmeg and allspice) rice mixed with meat (and possibly chestnuts), salads, and yoghurt.

For dessert: Knafe-steamed dough that is then glazed in syrup and butter, baklawa, and wheat pudding.

We celebrate on the eve of the 24th, and then walk to the Church of the Nativity for midnight mass. Christmas Day is spent visiting family and friends, where we traditionally have biscuits, dessert wine and cardamom spiced coffee.

Other (Be)thlehemite traditions include "passing of the pudding" in the first week of December (also known as Bourbara, the celebration of St Barbara, which involves making a lot of wheat porridge mixed with candied fruit and giving it to those less fortunate).

Answer 2

I come from an old Christian (Be)thlehemite family, the Nassers. We celebrate Christmas on the eve (24th), usually by having roast lamb. We slow cook the lamb, and cook rice on the side. The rice is cooked with mince, onions and decorated with roasted almonds. After we feast, we walk to the Nativity, where we attend midnight mass. Christmas day is spent visiting family and neighbours, where we are offered dessert wine and biscuits.

I live in England now, and am homesick this time of year.

Answer 3

Christmas food in Bethlehem includes a turkey. The turkey is stuffed with rice, pine-nuts and almonds. A common dessert at Christmas is baklava.