Living Nativity returns to La Seu d'Urgell old town on Dec 20

The living Nativity at La Seu d'Urgell will return to the old town on December 20 with its second edition. Organisers say the event will again stretch through the historic centre and are calling for more local participation to expand the representation.

The group plans to give more prominence to the town’s market scene, which they describe as a millennial commercial and social tradition. “If there were more of us, we could expand the scenes, starting with what represents La Seu’s market: we would like to add more stalls to the depiction,” says Vanessa Mitjana of the Associació Pessebre Vivent. The organisers also hope to add another craft and a “surprise,” but say additional volunteers are needed.

Around 130 volunteers are currently signed up. The association points out that while many people volunteer for the first weekend (December 20–21), numbers tend to fall for the second weekend (December 27–28), so extra help is especially welcome then. Roles vary from static and slightly mobile performers to staff tasks such as guiding the public and serving the hot broths offered to actors and visitors. No rehearsals are required beyond costume and makeup fittings.

There will be three performances each afternoon on both weekends, with a capacity of 250 people per session. Tickets are already on sale via Codeticket and in person at Espai Ermengol.

The event was launched by the city last year. The idea to stage the Nativity in the historic centre dates back to 2018, after Àlex Riba, Salvador Rosàs and Josep Canelles visited the Nativity in Ardèvol, in the municipality of Pinós. The project was delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic but was revived after a board renewal in November 2023 and efforts to recruit collaborators. Last year’s edition involved about 120 volunteers and the participation of local groups such as the Armats and the Retaule de Sant Ermengol, and drew strong public interest.