Christmas Barcelona Pessebre de Nadal

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Pessebre de Nadal. Christmas nativity scene

The pessebre is the Catalan name for the Christmas nativity scene. A Spanish and Catalan Christmas would not be complete without a nativity scene with palm trees, shepherds, three kings, Mary, Joseph and the infant Jesus. And of course the cheeky 'pooing' Caganer figure. A nativity scene in Catalonia is called 'El Pessebre de Nadal.'

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The word Pessebre means 'stable' and El Pessebre de Nadal refers to the manger, or the crib, where Christ was born. It is called 'El Belén de Navidad' in Spanish or 'Belén de Judá' which means 'stable of Judea.' 

The three most typical pessebre scenes are the birth of Christ in a manger, the Archangel Gabriel appearing to the shepherds or the star guiding the Three Kings to Bethlehem.

Traditionally the pessebre is assembled on St Catherines day on 25th November and taken down on 2nd February which is the feast of Candlemas which marks the midpoint of winter, halfway between the shortest day and the spring equinox.

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Christmas Crib scene displays can be found many places in Barcelona on plazas, in churches and in most Catalan homes, both in miniature form and also living nativity plays called 'pessebre vivents.'

The official Barcelona outdoor pessebre - Pessebre a la Plaça Sant Jaume - is on Plaça Sant Jaume in the Gothic quarter of Barcelona. It is open from end November to 6th January from 10:00 to 21:00 daily.

The official Barcelona outdoor nativity scene pessebre is the 'Pessebre a la Plaça Sant Jaume' in the Gothic quarter of Barcelona.

It is open from end November to 6th January from 10:00 to 22:00 daily. The design changes every year.

Previous years Pl Sant Jaume crib scene in a more traditional design.

barcelona navidad pessebre plaza sant jaume

Below: the nativity facade of Gaudi's famous Sagrada Familia church in Barcelona.

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Where to see a Christmas Pessebre in Barcelona?

Open-air pessebre in Plaça de Sant Jaume
Pessebre at Museo Frederic Marés - classic monumental nativity scene in the courtyard of the Museu Frederic Marès. The 2019 nativity scene is inspired by Montserrat mountain.
Cloister of Cathedral La Seu - entrance from Carrer del Bisbe
Mid-December to early January in Basílica de Santa Maria del Mar
Mostra de Pessebres de la Parròquia de Betlem - Las Ramblas 107
Sagrat Cor de Jesús del Tibidabo in church on Tibidabo hill
Museu Monestir de Pedralbes Pedralbes Monastery 

More about pessebres

Barcelona Pessebristes
Association of Pessebre Vivents

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Last Updated on Sunday, 15 December 2019 12:01
 
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Wednesday, 31 May 2023


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