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Nativity Scenes

Nativity Scene Baby Jesus from a Christmas nativity scene – or “Belén” (Spanish for Bethlehem).
Baby Jesus from A Christmas nativity scene – or “Belén” (Spanish for Bethlehem).

Nativity Scenes

By Brenda Padilla 

The nativity scene – or “Belén” (Spanish for Bethlehem) has special significance in Spain where organisations, groups of co-workers, families and students across the country work together to create elaborate re-creations of the scene of Jesus’ birth. Many public displays, contests and even “living nativities” are on all over the country in small villages and large cities. Ask your way to the nearest one. 

Tree or "Belen or both?"

In Andalucia, as in the rest of Spain, there is a bit of a debate regarding how deeply foreign Christmas customs should be allowed to take root. This debate mainly centres on who should be allowed to bring the gifts: Father Christmas or the Three Kings? Traditionalists have it clear that the Kings should maintain their post and that Santa Claus had better watch where he treads. This however, does not stop millions of families from allowing “Papá Noel” to sneak past the sentinels. The tree is more and more a tradition for the festive season, here is Spain and around the world.

The nativity is often a surprisingly large collection of pieces that have been lovingly gathered over the years
The nativity is often a surprisingly large collection of pieces that have been lovingly gathered over the years

Belén” (Bethlehem)

A lesser discussed issue is the competition between the Christmas tree and the nativity scene, called a “Belén” (Bethlehem) in Spanish. You can be sure that in most homes here the manger scene will feature more prominently and be treated with greater tender loving care than the tree will ever hope to see.

The nativity is often a surprisingly large collection of pieces that have been lovingly gathered over the years. At Christmas time, these scenes are brought out at homes, schools and workplaces across the region of Andalucia and assembled with great excitement and care. It is not uncommon for families, staff at companies and especially teachers and students to actually build a structure of some kind in order to then set up the entire town of Bethlehem, with Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus tucked into their manger scene somewhere amongst the vast, sprawling scenery.