Living Nativity Scenes in Girona

When the Christmas season draws near, households traditionally set aside somewhere in the house to recreate, on a smaller scale, Christmas Eve in Bethlehem. Little figures, moss-covered mounds and tinfoil rivers are used to make the traditional cribs. In some towns and villages, however, these Nativity scenes come out onto the streets, life-size, to convey the essence of these festivities.

Though these Living Nativity Scenes are intended as Yuletide representations of the gospels, they are also a good way of getting to know every corner of the villages of Girona. Take advantage of the coming of the evening, when the cribs are lit up, to delve into a tradition that has been kept up from generation to generation.

The leading characters, dressed up in period clothes, take their places in meticulously decorated stage-sets portraying traditional, historical and biblical scenes. The census of the Jews, the difficulties encountered by Joseph and Mary as they looked for somewhere to stay, the Nativity and the coming of the Three Wise Men are among the many portrayals you will be able to witness.

A signposted circuit will take you all around these various scenes, from stage to stage. See for yourself how the stage sets blend in with their surroundings to spectacular effect – sometimes in old medieval districts and other times outside the villages, amid nature. In some of these stagings, an off-stage voice will fill you in on the historical context and tell you about the prophesies announcing the coming of the Messiah. In others, you will be astonished by such spectacular special effects as the flight of an angel announcing the Birth.

There are many towns and villages in Girona province that have their own Living Nativity Scene, some with longer traditions behind them than others, but all with a charm of their own. Most villages are very well connected by public transport, but it is certainly more convenient to travel with your own car. If you’re a tourist then we advise to rent a car. You will find car hire companies in the most important towns of Girona, and if you arrive by plane at Gerona airport you can book car hire Girona on the internet, so you are sure that your rental car is waiting for you when you arrive at Girona airport. You will find these cribs in Amer, Castell d’Aro, Bàscara, Fontcoberta, Brunyola, Joanetes, Santa Pau, Pals, Avinyonet de Puigventós, Bescanó, Flaçà, Llers, Peralada, Puigcerdà, Riudaura, Santa Cristina d’Aro, Celrà, Tossa de Mar, Vilavenut and Navata.

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