In 1955 LIFE magazine devoted its entire Dec. 26 issue to the topic of Christianity. The first section was focused to the heritage of the religion. Then came a series of stories about contemporary Christianity in the United States. And the final section had an international flair, concluding with a photo-driven piece on how Christmas and Easter were celebrated in Bethlehem, renowned as the site of the Nativity of Jesus.
Here’s how LIFE described the importance of Bethlehem:
In Bethlehem priests speak many languages, for this is a place sacred to Christians of all lands and groupings—Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant. Through the ages pilgrims have come here in reverence and love, for here was born hope.
The photo essay by Dmitri Kessel, who was born in Russia and handled many international assignments for LIFE, covered the celebrations of both Christmas and Easter. In addition to taking photos of the rituals of those holidays, he also captured images of young shepherds at work in the nearby hills. Those photos are particularly evocative because—setting aside the technological impossibility of it—the images look as if they could have been taken in the time of Jesus, imparting the feel of a history that is still very much alive. `
An aerial view of the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem, 1955.
Dmitri Kessel/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
A Christmas celebration in Bethlehem, 1955.
Dmitri Kessel/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
The Church of the Nativity (center) in Bethlehem, 1955.
Dmitri Kessel/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
In the Grotto of the Nativity, the sacred site of Christ’s birth was marked by a silver star on the floor, with a hole in the middle for pilgrims to peer through, 1955.
Dmitri Kessel/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
People looked through a hole in the Grotto of the Nativity during Christmas in Bethlehem, 1955.
Dmitri Kessel/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
A Franciscan friar placed a figure in the manger during a celebration of Christmas in Bethlehem, 1955.
Dmitri Kessel/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
A Christmas celebration in Bethlehem, 1955.
Dmitri Kessel/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
A shepherd stood in his field in Bethlehem, 1955.
Dmitri Kessel/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Shepherds in Bethlehem, 1955.
Dmitri Kessel/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
A shepherd stood in his field in Bethlehem, 1955.
Dmitri Kessel/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
A camel near Bethlehem, 1955.
Dmitri Kessel/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
A camel near Bethlehem, 1955.
Dmitri Kessel/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Easter in Bethlehem, 1955.
Dmitri Kessel/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Easter in Bethlehem, 1955.
Dmitri Kessel/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
A scene from Good Friday in Bethlehem, 1955.
Dmitri Kessel/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
