Jbeil Lights Up Christmas Tree, But Is It Okay To Celebrate?

Every year, Jbeil unveils a giant Christmas tree during the holiday season. The tree has earned worldwide recognition after having been featured in The Wall Street Journal back in 2014. The 97-foot-high spectacle that was covered in 2,500 gold-coated iron leaves caught the eyes of many, marking the already highly anticipated event as an exciting annual tradition for many locals.

In 2020, the tradition was skipped as a result of the economic crisis and the inability to allocate sufficient funds to build the Christmas tree. However, it was resumed the following year.

And of course, this year’s Christmas tree dazzled the crowds with an immaculate display during its unveiling, complete with red, green, and gold decorations lighting up the tree, as well as a firework display.

However, such posts have been flooded with critical remarks as many pointed out that although this may be lifting Lebanese spirits during such difficult times, the extravagant unveiling came off as insensitive in light of the current situation in Lebanon and Palestine.

Amidst increasing hostilities against Lebanese territories, as well as the violent war crimes across Palestine, perhaps such a grandiose display was a bit…unnecessary. I mean, if even the birthplace of Jesus isn’t celebrating due to the horrifying situation, then maybe we should tone it down just a little bit. Though it is understandable to want to enjoy a little disconnect while immersing oneself in the festivities of the holiday season, this does not change the fact that Lebanese territories have been under attack for two months now.

Many of us have been conflicted as to whether it’s okay to celebrate at all because how heavily the recent events have been weighing on us, not to mention those living in areas severely affected by the hostilities. It often feels unfair to be living normally when others are suffering.

Here are some of the critical comments that were left on the post:

This doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy the holidays or deny yourself the chance to celebrate, but perhaps being more mindful and showing solidarity would have been the better route in this situation.