Christmas in the West Bank

Hilary Browne remembers her two Christmases last year

by Hilary Browne 17th December 2009

This time last year I had two Christmases. The first, Western Christmas, was spent in the tiny village of Yanoun on the outskirts of Nablus in the West Bank. I was one of a team of four Ecumenical Accompaniers (EAs) based in the village. I stayed in the village over Christmas as I had chosen to go to Bethlehem for the Eastern Christmas in the New Year. Staying in Yanoun was a positive choice. We had it all – sheep and goats in the barn next door, a donkey in the field, and the night sky full of stars. Here, strangers in need today would be taken in by the warm, generous villagers.