It has always been a "touchy" subject to talk about my life in Palestine. It is hard to describe life there, without getting into politics, and politics in that part of the world are ugly, to say the least. So as a disclaimer, I'd like to state that I've always been for peace, and if it was up to me, war would have ended years ago. I can't help but be a little more sympathetic for my relatives,who still live in Palestine, and be somewhat more influenced by their thoughts and opinions.But above all, I believe in human rights, peace and equality.
Both of my parents, are from a small town called Beit Sahour (Beit in Arabic means house, and Sahour is vigilance). Beit Sahour is about 1 Km east of Bethlehem, with a population of about 15,400, of which 80% are Christians,and 20% are Muslims.
The most famous site(s) in Beit Sahour, is the Shepherds Field , where the angel announced the birth of Jesus to the shepherds according to the New Testament. As a child, I remember Christmas being very festive in the Shepherds Fields, where people gather to pray, and celebrate the birth of Jesus, with deserts, candles and music.
There are actually two sites for the Shepherds Field: The Catholic site, and the Greek Orthodox site. (Catholic and Greek Orthodox are the two big churches and denominations in Beit Sahour.).
The Franciscan site (Catholic), also known as Der Es-Siar, contains large monastic agricultural establishment ,filled with cisterns and grottoes.
According to evidence in the field, an early church dating from the fifth century was enlarged in the sixth century and stones from the octagonal structure of the Basilica of the Nativity were used in the construction of its apse. The present sanctuary, erected in 1953-54, stands over a cave in which the shepherds are believed to have lived. It is built in the shape of a tent, permitting natural light to enter the church in beautiful rays.
The Greek Orthodox site, also known as Der Er-Ra'wat, meaning the Convent of the Shepherds, is located in a small valley filled with olive trees, some of which date back two thousand years.The site is revered as the spot where an angel surrounded by a supernatural light appeared to the bewildered shepherds and spoke: "Glory to God in the Highest, and on Earth, Peace Among Men."
Three of the shepherds to whom the angel announced the birth of Christ were buried in the west side of the Cave Church; their tomb is still visible. Today, only the crypt of the church remains. This dark subterranean chapel contains an altar facing eastward with a number of paintings and a small apse behind it. A new church was built near the site of the original "cave church".
In addition to these two churches, there are four more churches( two Catholic, one Greek Orthodox, and one Evangelical Lutheran) and there is also The Omar Ibn Al Khatab Mosque.
Unfortunately, I do not have any photos readily on my computer, it has been a while since I last visited. But I will try to gather some for your viewing pleasure. Johnny, my young brother, is going to Beit Sahour, for a month visit in May, so I can ask him to take some photos for me then.
My life in Beit Sahour, was mostly about school and family. Families are generally big, or I should say that extended families are big, and family ties are very strong. A small wedding in Beit Sahour would have 400 to 500 guests, just to give you an idea of what I am speaking off. Your fourth cousin, is just as 'close' to you as your first cousin, that is how they roll. So, you can imagine family gatherings are very interesting, to say the least. I still don't know many of my parents family members by name, which I should I shared so many meals with them, but this is how big "our family" is.
So, for my next Palestine posts, let me know what could be of interest to you, and I will try to write about it. Other than that, I am thinking of writing about food, education, the traditional costume, and maybe ,if I could find a photo, our house there.
Comments (14)
I am really looking forward to this series of entries. I think the ideas that you have for future entries are great. Like you, I have always wished for peace!
Posted by sheri | February 27, 2009 11:57 AM
Posted on February 27, 2009 11:57
Fascinating and those churches are very cool looking. I had no idea about the tombs of the shepherds. So are things pretty peaceful between the Catholic and Orthodox faiths there?
Those huge family gatherings sound like fun (and I bet the food is great!). All of the topics you've listed sound good to me.
Posted by Annie | February 27, 2009 12:38 PM
Posted on February 27, 2009 12:38
Sheri, thanks I'll try my best with these posts.
Annie, yes, things are very peaceful among the Beit Sahour people themselves, Christians and Muslims alike, it is a peaceful little town.
Posted by candi | February 27, 2009 12:45 PM
Posted on February 27, 2009 12:45
I spent some time near Nazereth when I was in college, and traveled in the West Bank way before it was the way it is today. It is good to read your posts about family life there - we all would like to see things become more peaceful there, but I'm not an optimist by any stretch of the imagination.
Posted by Marcia | February 27, 2009 2:45 PM
Posted on February 27, 2009 14:45
Hi Candi, great post! I really appreciate learning more about where you grew up. I found reading about Beit Sahour so interesting.
It's great that you have such a large family and how extended members are considered close just like first cousins.
I also share in your wishes of peace and if it were also up to me war and conflict everywhere would end.
I like the topics you mentioned and would totally love to see your house too.
Thanks so much Candi. Have a great weekend!
Posted by Kathy (Trekcapri) | February 27, 2009 7:42 PM
Posted on February 27, 2009 19:42
Lovely post, Candi. Looking forward to reading more.
Posted by Amy | February 28, 2009 3:57 PM
Posted on February 28, 2009 15:57
I have always been so saddened to see the violence in the Middle East. I also wish for a peaceful existence where all people are respected and honored. I have been fascinated by the region and have enjoyed reading about Beit Sahour. I look forward to more of your posts on Palestine.
Posted by girasoli | February 28, 2009 7:34 PM
Posted on February 28, 2009 19:34
Wow, what a fascinating post, Candi - thanks for sharing about your home with us! I really look forward to reading more about Palestine and seeing photos of Beit Sahour. I amazed by the size of family. I have only a small family myself, even counting fourth cousins! I also find it awesome to think of growing up in an area so steeped in history. Very cool, can't wait for more of your stories!
Posted by Anne | February 28, 2009 7:50 PM
Posted on February 28, 2009 19:50
Candi, it's wonderful to read about a little peaceful town like yours. So many of my ideas about Palestine and the Middle East are from the US media, and I love getting a real and personal perspective on it. It's funny but when you first started blogging and said that you were an Arabic-American, I thought that meant you were Muslim so it's really wonderful to have my horizons broadened. Keep these post coming!
Posted by Annie | February 28, 2009 8:28 PM
Posted on February 28, 2009 20:28
Marcia, Well, I barely remember Nazareth, never spent much time there. And I know what you mean about not being too optimistic, not many people are, unfortunately.
Kathy, thanks, life in Beit Sahour would not be interesting at all if it wasn't for family functions, weird to say that out loud!
Amy, thanks, I'll do my best.
girasoli, the violence we hear about isn't even half of it, there is so much more going on there sad to say.
Anne, yup, families are big in Beit Sahour, but even with that, everyone knows everyone.
Annie, you are giving me a post idea, thanks. I think the Arabs in the US and the world really are kind of misrepresented, maybe I can try to shine some light.
Posted by candi | March 1, 2009 2:54 PM
Posted on March 1, 2009 14:54
Candi, I'm still catching up on my blog reading, so I'm sorry I'm late in commenting.
This is a fascinating topic, and your pictures are great -- I'd love to see more! Beit Sahour sounds very interesting, is it in the West Bank?
I share your hopes for peace in the Middle East, the disputes seem so intractable. Yet perhaps with the help of the new U.S. administration, hope might be possible?
Posted by sandrac | March 2, 2009 7:53 PM
Posted on March 2, 2009 19:53
Sandra, Beit Sahour is in the west Bank, east of Bethlehem and south of Jerusalem.
Posted by candi | March 2, 2009 8:23 PM
Posted on March 2, 2009 20:23
Another winning post. You know I found that throughout the area, there are always "two" locations for biblical history, one from the Roman Catholic church and one from the Greek church. I think there two different sets of stations of the cross in Jerusalem, and I'm trying to remember what else.
I love big extended families - one of the things I miss now is that my cousins live so far away - all over the country - heck even my brother and parents are far away.
Posted by Kim | March 9, 2009 5:16 AM
Posted on March 9, 2009 05:16
Kim, you are right about the two biblical locations. They are throughout the country it seems like.Even when it comes to festivals, there are two separate ones: Catholic and Orthodox.
Posted by candi | March 9, 2009 3:34 PM
Posted on March 9, 2009 15:34