Palestinian embroidery artist and scholar Susan Muaddi Darraj describes the rage of seeing "her" star pattern—a traditional tatreez motif with centuries of Palestinian cultural significance—commodified as Christmas decorations in American department stores.2
The 8-pointed star circulates globally on Western retail products, marketed as generic 'snowflakes' or seasonal decoration, completely severed from its Palestinian origins. Even the name 'Bethlehem Star' represents appropriation—imposed by Western 'Holy Land' tourism through what scholars call 'Biblification,' a type of Orientalism where travel guides urged tourists to ignore the real identities of Indigenous people in favour of biblical caricature. 1 2
Cultural symbols become commercialised products. Palestinian voices remain marginalised and silenced.
Palestinian thobe with 8-pointed star tatreez from a village between al-Khalil and Yafa, Palestine, early 20th century.
© Wafa Ghnaim via The MET.
Knitted sweater marketed as “Christmas Ugly Sweater” with the same 8-pointed star sold for USD $33.98 at Walmart.