It is a Christmas unlike any other which is being prepared Thursday in the countries celebrating it, the festivities finding themselves everywhere restricted, even weighed down, by a procession of restrictions ordered to fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.
The coronavirus has killed more than 1.7 million people on five continents and the sources of contamination which continue to appear remind us that despite the arrival of the first vaccines, life will not soon return to its normal course.
It was under a gray sky that a small crowd came to witness the traditional Christmas procession through the streets of Bethlehem, which usually attracts thousands of pilgrims.
A few hundred people wearing sanitary masks and umbrellas watched the parade with Palestinian and Vatican flags waving to the sound of drums and bagpipes.
“Despite the fear and frustration associated with Covid-19, we will overcome this ordeal because Jesus was born in Bethlehem,” said Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Pierbattista Pizzaballa.
"It's different this year because we don't come to pray at the Church of the Nativity, we can't get together as a family, everyone is afraid," says Jania Shaheen, in front of the parade with her husband and her children. two children, place de la Manger in front of the basilica built where Jesus was born according to tradition.
Pandemic obliges, on the evening of the 24th at the basilica, there will be no mass in public, no processions of Palestinian leaders but a Christmas mass bringing together only the clergy and televised throughout the world.
Pope Francis is considering moving the Vatican midnight mass forward by two hours to comply with Italian restrictions.
The sovereign pontiff also announced Thursday that he intended to go "as soon as possible" to Lebanon, a multi-faith country bereaved by the pandemic and traumatized by the explosion of August 4 at the port of Beirut.
In his message, he calls on the international community to help Lebanon "to stay out of conflicts and regional tensions" but also "to emerge from a serious crisis".
"Tear"
In Australia, a country sometimes cited as an example of good health management, the hour was desolate in the face of a resurgence of cases in the north of Sydney.
Jimmy Arslan, owner of two cafes in the most affected neighborhoods, saw a 75% drop in turnover.
And he will not be able to count on the presence of his family to cheer him up: she lives in Canberra and therefore cannot make the trip.
“It's heartbreaking,” says the 46-year-old boss.
Germany was forced to cancel its famous Christmas markets while in Kuwait, churches were closed until January 10 despite the presence of a large Christian community and as the vaccination campaign was launched in the country.
The Republic of Congo-Brazzaville announced a reconfinement on Christmas Day and January 1, angering the bishops.
In the Philippines, some have chosen to spend the holidays alone because of the risks in public transport.
"I'm going to order food, watch old movies and make a video call with my family," said Kim Patria, 31, who lives alone in Manila.
In Qamichli in northeastern Syria controlled by Kurdish forces, residents ignored the pandemic and attended a Christmas tree lighting ceremony in a Christian neighborhood.
In the crowd, there were more Christmas hats than masks, while security forces were deployed for the occasion.
Muslims and Christians mingled to dance dabké to traditional music in front of the illuminated tree.
Christmas in Dover
Thousands of European truck drivers are preparing for their part to spend New Years Eve in summary conditions, stuck around the port of Dover in the United Kingdom.
The country is slowly emerging from the isolation caused by the appearance on its soil of a new strain of the virus.
"Everyone tells us to come here and just wait but we don't want to wait!" Laments Polish driver Ezdrasz Szwaja at the old Manston airport, where the British government has to test thousands of truckers screening.
"They say there will be a Covid test for us" but "nothing is coming", "we have no information, nothing", he adds, very moved.
"I have two very small children, a wife, I just want to go" to Poland.
The New Year should also be gloomy.
Faced with the rebound of the pandemic in Brazil, the city hall of Rio de Janeiro intends to prohibit on the evening of December 31 access to the district of the famous Copacabana beach.
Usually, millions of people flock there to admire the fireworks, the cancellation of which was announced in July.
For now, Sydney is still planning to welcome the New Year "whatever happens" with its spectacular fireworks display.
With AFP
The summary of the week
France 24 invites you to come back to the news that marked the week
I subscribe
Take international news everywhere with you!
Download the France 24 application
google-play-badge_FR