It's a birthday party like no other. 

Tourists and residents alike are getting ready to celebrate the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. The city of 30,000 sits just 10 KM south of Jerusalem, and like 2,000 years ago, it's filled with people flocking to the city.

"Christmas night in Bethlehem is always a beautiful night," Mayor Anton Salmon says.

Salmon says the city has been preparing to welcome the pilgrims who will make their way to the holy city over the next few days.

"We have tourists arriving now," Salmon says, though they can't say yet how many will show up this year. Salmon says that the number fluctuates each year.

For people that call Bethlehem home it can be "unique" the mayor says, "to live in a place that God gave us the gift of Christmas."

"No matter what challenges you face in your life, Bethlehem remains Bethlehem. It's a place that everybody enjoys of being here in Bethlehem."