Israel - The warmth of the Middle East

First and foremost is the ancient city of Bethlehem, where Christ was born. Rustic and simple, this place has preserved the ancient spirit of a religion that has existed for over 2,000 years. Inside the Church of the Nativity stands a famous altar, beneath which is the grotto where Jesus was reportedly born, marked by a 14-point silver star on a marble background. Millions of Christian pilgrims and tourists patiently queue to kneel and touch this star as a way of expressing their reverence.

Equally important is the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, a sacred site where the tomb of Jesus was located, after he was removed from the cross. One cannot forget to mention the Dome of the Rock, a stunningly beautiful temple with a prominent golden dome located on Temple Mount. It contains a stone believed to bear a footprint left by the prophet Muhammad as he ascended to heaven. This site is revered by Muslims as the third-holiest place after Mecca and Medina. The New Year atmosphere in Jerusalem is always imbued with historical colors and mythical stories spanning 3,000 years, making this city an ancient wonder. On ancient stones, people pray for lasting and prosperous peace, so that this sacred land can welcome many more explorers.

Image 2: Traveling from East to West, Europe to Asia, and North to South, I realize that wherever you celebrate, the New Year is meaningful! In these places, through tourism, wishes for a peaceful New Year are shared, healing and mending what humanity has endured in the past year. In these places, for tourists and locals, the turn of the seasons is sacred and warm, as people come together to celebrate their unique cultural imprints and honor historical values that continue to grow over the years.