Great Joy Celebration 2009
Over 8000 people attended the celebration which was funded and supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The celebration began at the site of the Greek Orthodox Cultural Club with the Ground Breaking Ceremony for the new indoor gymnasium. Next, Dr. Fayyad commenced the Ground Breaking Ceremony for the Beit Sahour City Complex in the People's Market Square. Afterwards, led by four of the city's Scout Groups, the people made their way up to Ararat Building and the Beit Sahour Municipality in a candle-lit Procession of Peace. The celebration culminated in the lighting of the Christmas tree in front of Radio Bethlehem 2000. The Mayor of Beit Sahour, Mr. Hani Al-Hayek and His Excellency Dr. Salam Fayyad expressed their hopes for peace for the Palestinian people. The festivities included fireworks, holiday music and singing, a laser lights show and reception in the Latin Patriarch Church Hall. Many notables attended the celebration including: Mr. Howard Sumka, the director of USAID-WBG; Mr. Christian Berger, Director of the European Commission Technical Assistance Office (ECTAO); the Deputy Consul of Portugal, the Netherlands Representative to the Palestinian People; the General Consul of Belgium, the Cyprus Representative to the Palestinian People; the Maltese Representative to the Palestinian People; former Roman Catholic Patriarch, Father Michael Sabah; the Governor of Bethlehem, Mr. Abdelfatah Hamayel; the Minister of Local Governments, Mr. Fahed Al Kawasma; and the Mayor of Hebron, Mr. Khaled Osaily. Beit Sahour Municipality would like to say a special thanks to Hebron Municipality and Mayor Osaily for their generous use of equipments that were essential to the success of the celebration.
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On December 20, 2009, the community of Beit Sahour and its friends celebrated the 5th Annual Great Joy Celebration under the patronage of His Excellency, Dr. Salam Fayyad.
