Over 2000 years ago, in late December in the town of Bethlehem, a star shone bright in the night sky, announcing the good news that a saviour would be born by the name of Jesus.
Flash forward to the 21st century and you can still celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ in the town of Bethlehem. And, you can get there by car. The Bethlehem we refer to is not the one located in the Middle East, but rather it is in the US, in Pennsylvania to be exact.
Due to its famous name, the town quickly became a curiosity and both authorities and locals didn’t waste any time in capitalizing on this. As a result, they created a December that is full of holiday festivities in order to attract tourists in what is typically a very quiet time of year for them.
This year “Christmas City” has a new attraction. In addition to the classic activities, the municipality has given the green light for the construction of a casino, the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem. It will cost the town more than 700 million US dollars and opened its doors just in time for the holiday season.
For those who fear the casino may put a damper on the festivities of the season, authorities have assured people that the city and the casino have two completely separate budgets and in no way will casino activities overshadow the unique holiday charm that Bethlehem (Pennsylvania) has on its visitors at this very special time of year.