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Christmas City, USA

“Bethlehem did not create Christmas, Christmas created Bethlehem.”
– Vernon Melhado, President of the 1937 Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce

On Christmas Eve 1741, in a stable, while a small group of Moravians were singing a hymn with the stanza “Not Jerusalem, Lowly Bethlehem” Count Nicolaus Ludwig Von Zinzendorf christened this little town “Bethlehem”. Since that time Christmas in Bethlehem has been central to the city’s identity. From the first documented decorated Christmas tree in America to the efforts of the Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce to get Bethlehem nicknamed “Christmas City USA” in 1937, to the current time when both sides of the river boast Christmas markets filled with artisan craft, retail and food vendors, Bethlehem is rife with one Christmas celebration after another.

 

World Heritage Candidate

https://www.visithistoricbethlehem.com/history/world-heritage-candidate/

Christmas City USA

These days it takes a village to bring Christmas to Bethlehem’s residents and visitors. The following organizations work year-round to make sure your Christmas visit is enjoyable.

  • Christkindlmarkt, Bethlehem

    So Much More Than a Holiday Destination

    For more information, visit https://www.christmascity.org/christkindlmarkt/schedule-ticket-info/

    Christkindlmarkt, Bethlehem

For a calendar of Christmas events in Bethlehem

Visit Bethlehem City
History of Christmas in Bethlehem

On Christmas Eve 1741, in a stable, while a small group of Moravians were singing a hymn with the stanza “Not Jerusalem, Lowly Bethlehem” Count Nicolaus Ludwig Von Zinzendorf christened this little town “Bethlehem”. Since that time, Christmas in Bethlehem has been central to the city’s identity. From the first documented decorated Christmas tree in America to the efforts of the Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce to get Bethlehem nicknamed “Christmas City USA” in 1937, to the current time when both sides of the river boast Christmas markets filled with artisan craft, retail and food vendors, Bethlehem is rife with one Christmas celebration after another.

Bethlehem as “Christmas City USA”

In 1937, The Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce started a nationwide letter writing effort to 2,500 Chambers of Commerce asking each of them to notify their local newspapers of the campaign to make Bethlehem, Pennsylvania “the Christmas City”. It was suggested that people throughout the country send their Christmas cards to Bethlehem to receive the “Christmas City” cancellation. Most of the Chambers participated and more than 185,000 pieces of mail inundated the Bethlehem Post Office.

The “Citizens” Form a Committee

In the 1960’s the Citizens Christmas City Committee (of the Chamber of Commerce) was formed to help dignify the look of Christmas in the City of Bethlehem while at the same time absorbing a fair share of the costs of bringing Christmas to the public. The Committee continues to raise over $15,000 every year to purchase over 800 trees that are lit during the Christmas season. Sparkling white lights adorn those trees in the Historic Moravian District and beautiful, LED colored lights have been placed in the trees in the SouthSide Arts District. For more about the Citizens Christmas City Committee and how you can help please go to www.lightupbethlehem.org

Credits

Site design by Weidenhammer. Images courtesy of Discover Lehigh Valley and Fig Bethlehem.

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