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Christmas in the Church of the Nativity at Bethlehem circa 1940. View full size. 4x5 glass-plate negative, G. Eric and Edith Matson Photograph Collection.
But Anonymous Tipster is right, all the ladies clothes date from between 1928 and 1930.
[The dating comes from the photographer's logbook. -tterrace]
That's a Queen Elizabeth Hat, very stylish among British women of a certain age between about 1937 and 1940.
(Referring to the late Queen Mother, of course, who became Queen Consort at the end of 1936.)
Judging by the western ladies hats the date would be more like 1928-1930 I think.
[It's not. - Dave]
The hanging things are oil lamps, not censers. Just above the lamps themselves are oval ostrich eggs -- a symbol of hope and the Resurrection. The lamps are lowered during the day to be refilled and have their wicks trimmed. Orthodox churches in Jerusalem and elsewhere have dozens of these lamps, many of them donated over the centuries by Christian pilgrims.
[Thank you! - Dave]
What are the things hanging in the picture? Incense?
[Answer above. - Dave]
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