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Do you love the Christmas spirit? Did you know that San Sebastian is a city that embraces the festivities of the nippy season? During the Christmas months San Sebastian’s builders associations organizes an exhibition displaying nativity scenes around the city.
The Association of Gipuzkoa Belenista specializes in crib making. Throughout the year and during the Christmas period they prepare for this annual exhibition. At the end of November the Association Belenista proclaimed a person of the year who is due to present the book of Christmas themes during the month of December. This is when exhibition of the cribs commences. The cribs that the association have created over the years are presented in a collection to San Sebastian’s tourists and local residents.
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According to legend, on Christmas Eve 1223 in Assisi, San Francesco made the first “presepe” (a traditional nativity scene) a name derived from the Italian word for Bethlehem. The first nativity scene was set up according to tradition. From the animal figures to the traditional dress the reconstruction of Jesus’ birth scene was carefully crafted to portray the real event. Now the construction is not only seen as a reproduction of the Catholic tradition but also as an recognized art form.
During the Christmas season in San Sebastian you’ll find a variety of crib exhibitions throughout the city. The most famous is held in the Boulevard Room presenting the work of the members from the nativity association. As well as this, each year a town in Guipúzcoa installs a travelling exhibition, which travels around the country and venture to France!
For locals who don’t have space in there homes for a nativity scene there’s the opportunity to see the portable crib, which takes place every year on the 23rd of December in the Plaza de Guipúzcoa. There is also a permanent Bethlehem at the premises of the nativity association which can be accessed at any time of year. You can also find a Bethlehem Monumental at Plaza de Gipuzkoa, this statue has been there since the 1960’s. The monument of Bethlehem was produced by two artists Rafael Munoa and José Luis Usabiaga. The weather resistant figures stand at one meter tall at the centre of the busy plaza.
The winter months in San Sebastian provide the perfect location for a family vacation. During the Christmas period you and your family can enjoy the lively festive atmosphere of this historical event! Bring along your own Christmas figurine and join in with the Christmas spirit. Stay in one of our apartments for families. Santa Catalina will accommodate up to six people. Make the most of your Christmas in San Sebastian.
