Hello Christmas in Barcelona
A mechanical ballerina figure and promoting local and sustainable commerce are two of the highlights to this year's Christmas celebrations, where the work of J. V. Foix is the nativity scene's source of inspiration.
The launch of the Christmas campaign will see Barcelona immersed in a series of dreams and good wishes as a symbol of a time for renovation and excitement, covering every corner in the city. A giant mechanical ballerina that will be accompanying the various activities taking place over this period will be the main figure during the festivities, whose aim is to evoke how the city's children see Christmas.
The city’s Christmas lights will be officially switched on at a ceremony this Thursday, 24 November, and over 100 km of the city’s streets will stay lit up until 6 January, thanks to the joint work of the 77 retailers’ associations and shopping hubs, through subsidies granted by the City Council itself.
Promoting shopping in the neighbourhoods
December marks the arrival of Christmas booths. This year the City Council is launching its “True Christmas Wrapping” campaign, a test pilot at ten points in the city, where the public can have their gifts sustainably and ecologically wrapped. Working together with the Barcelona Comerç Foundation and Barcelona Oberta , the initiative aims to promote local commerce and markets, by raising awareness among city residents of the importance of shopping in their local neighbourhoods.
Meanwhile, the ‘Neighbourhood Christmas Shop Windows Contest’ is back for its second year in a row, offering an opportunity for any retailer who so wishes to brighten up their shops with the option of receiving customised business advice. This year's campaign will focus on the districts of Nou Barris, Sant Andreu, Sant Martí and Sants – Montjuïc.
A nativity scene paying tribute to J. V. Foix
January 2017 marks the 30 anniversary of the death of J. V. Foix, a time to commemorate and pay homage to the figure of the poet with re-interpretation of his poem ‘Ho sap tothom i és profecia’ [Everyone knows it and it’s a prophecy] to create the traditional nativity scene in Plaça Sant Jaume. The artists Quim Domene and Toti Toronell were tasked with creating a scene of Christmas at its most everyday and common, as evoked by Foix in his work, by putting up 9 giant transparent balls, recalling decorative Christmas snow balls.
Called “A space for dreaming!”, the participation spaces will be on Plaça Catalunya, as in previous years. Shows and sports activities for all ages, as well as animations for young kids, will be held there from 17 December to 4 January. It will also be playing host to the 2nd Responsible Consumption, Social and Solidarity Fair, where some sixty associations and businesses will be exhibiting and promoting their products and projects, based on responsible and local consumption.
