We’re now back. Barcelona is once again being decked out with lights, garlands and trees to usher in the Christmas festivities. But if there’s one authentic type of decoration during these dates it would have to be nativity scenes. You will find them in every shape and form, and to suit all tastes: small, monumental, traditional, exotic, modern, artistic and so on.

The city is being transformed and filled with more than 30 nativity scenes, 4 living nativity scenes, 12 representations of the Pastorets or “little shepherds” and 7 songs of the Sybil. We can enjoy all these in our neighbourhood centres, schools, festival centres, community centres, churches and streets. And all together, thanks to the dozens of associations working throughout the year to enable our Christmas traditions to fill our neighbourhoods once again with excitement and good cheer.

This time we’ll need to pay attention to the heath measures in place in every space. While many places will no longer have any restrictions, we will still need to wear a mask and keep to social distancing. In some cases too we will have to book our tickets in advance for access to the complexes.

This year, what’s more, we’ll be seeing a return of the Pessebre tradicional de Barcelona, que es fa al pati del Museu Frederic Marès; el Pessebre de la plaça de Sant Jaume, que s’estén pels carrers de Jaume I i de Ferran; i la tercera edició de la Ruta pessebrística [nativity-scene route], with a new feature – a Gràcia route.

All that you’ll see for yourselves, and with every safety feature in place, find yourselves smitten with the Song of Sybil, take a stroll past the living nativity scenes, have fun watching with Little Shepherds and admire the nativity scenes. Enjoy them!

You can check out the 2021 Christmas Communal Culture Programme here.