Grup Pessebrista de Castellar - Diari de Sabadell

About five thousand people have passed through the exhibition of the Nativity Scene Group

Anyone who has not passed the premises next to the chapel of Montserrat is still on time. The remaining three Sundays of the month you can visit the exhibition of the Grup Pessebrista de Castellar, which this year has received nearly five thousand visits since the first weekend in December. Hours are 12pm to 2pm and 5pm to 8pm.

Each year the show attracts fans of the construction of dioramas from other communities. This year, the most important visit, both in terms of number and distance, was that of a group of 60 Portuguese artisans and collectors.

The members of this entourage were so admired that they have already considered an exchange between the nativity scenes of Castile and Santo Tirso, a town near Porto.

The Portuguese were also able to visit the workshop of the Castilian sculptor Montserrat Ribes.

Among the 19 cribs that can be seen on the ground floor of the place, there are some made by those attending the workshops organized by the group and also by children. They show a great diversity of styles, from the most customary to those that incorporate elements of easily recognizable landscapes. On the upper floor you can see, as a posthumous tribute, some figures of Lluís Carratalà and his daughter Montserrat.

Nativity scenes on the net

The nativity scene group has also launched an initiative that is part of the Biennial of the Nativity Scene that will take place next Christmas. This is an "online" exhibition of dioramas that can be accessed through the website www.biennaldelpessebre.cat. You can see almost 300 creations from all over Catalonia, but also some from Italy, Portugal and Argentina. To take part, all you have to do is register and upload the photo of the crib itself.

The biennial will offer the possibility of seeing a large exhibition of nativity scenes from various associations in Catalonia.

Next Sunday, at 12 noon, the verdict of the homemade crib competition will be made public at the headquarters of the Center Excursionista de Castellar.

Sabadell newspaper, January 13, 2010