What's on in Bethlehem (West Bank), Palestine through the year

Busy — Greek Orthodox Christmas, school holidays in 6 of the markets that fill it

• Festival

  Greek Orthodox Christmas

  6–7 JanChristmas & New YearCrowded

  The second Christmas of the season, on 6 and 7 January, with its own procession into the same square. Quieter than the Latin one and far easier to get near the church. Source ↗

• Festival

  Armenian Christmas

  18–19 JanChristmas & New Year

  The third and last Christmas, in the Armenian rite around 18 and 19 January. By the end of it the decorations have been up for a month and the town goes back to itself. Source ↗

• Holiday

  Ramadan

  18 Feb – 19 MarClosures

  Bethlehem is a mixed town and the fast changes its daytime rhythm: shops open late, and the hour before the evening meal empties the streets completely before they refill. Source ↗

Busy — Ramadan, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in February.

Still on: Ramadan (18 Feb – 19 Mar)

Peak crowds — Ramadan, Holy Week and Easter

• Festival

  Holy Week and Easter

  29 Mar – 12 AprEaster & Holy WeekCrowdedBook early

  Palm Sunday to Easter, with the Western and Eastern dates usually a week or so apart and pilgrims walking the road from Jerusalem for both. The busiest fortnight after Christmas. Source ↗

Still on: Ramadan (18 Feb – 19 Mar)

Busy — Holy Week and Easter, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in April.

Still on: Holy Week and Easter (29 Mar – 12 Apr)

Busy — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, one of its best months for weather

Nothing new starts in May.

Still on: Holy Week and Easter (29 Mar – 12 Apr)

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in June.

Shoulder season — school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in July.

Shoulder season — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in August.

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in September.

Busy — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, one of its best months for weather

• Nature

  Olive harvest

  1 Oct – 20 Nov · usually

  Families take a fortnight off to pick the terraces around Beit Jala and Battir and the presses run late into the night. Stand still near a tree and you will be handed a bucket.

Shoulder season — an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in November.

Still on: Olive harvest (1 Oct – 20 Nov (usually))

Busy — Latin Christmas, school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it

• Festival

  Latin Christmas

  24–25 DecChristmas & New YearCrowdedBook early

  The patriarch's procession into Manger Square on the 24th and midnight mass in the Church of the Nativity, which is ticketed. The square is full from mid-afternoon and rooms go months ahead. Source ↗