As it happens in the rest of Spain and the Christian world, the beginning of December is the starting signal for Christmas. And at the inauguration of the nativity scene at the Puerta del Sol in Madrida fact provided by the government of the region has surprised the most curious travelers: this year, the nativity scene is inspired in Ait Ben Haddou, a Moroccan village declared a Unesco World Heritage Site.. And as we like to find common ground between Morocco and other places on this blog (Portugal, United States, Andalusia…), we have asked ourselves why and to what extent they are similar.
The nativity scene at Puerta del Sol in Madrid: what is it?
Before analyzing the reasons and similarities, it is worth remembering the importance of the Nativity scene at the Puerta del Sol in Madrid: located in the Royal Post Office, the seat of the Community government, at Kilometer 0 of Spain itself, it is traditionally one of the most important and visited Nativity scenes in the capital.
Its figures speak for themselves: 480 figures, 1,200 kg of cork, 120 boxes of moss and more than 1,000 kg of sand and stones, for a total of 145 m2, making it one of the largest Nativity scenes in the entire region.
How are the nativity scene and Ait Ben Haddou similar?
Taking all this into account, one might ask: what is the relationship between the Puerta del Sol Nativity Scene and Ait Ben Haddou? Logically, it should be clarified that in many nativity scenes, and in this one in particular, it is common for the artists to take certain licenses: although they recreate biblical scenes, they often choose anachronistic details or environments with the intention of giving a more special touchas a tribute. Other years, for example, this nativity scene has been set in the Madrid of Charles III, in the eighteenth century.
So why Ait Ben Haddou this year? It can be interpreted, why not, as a tribute to the Moroccan population of the regionwhich is very numerous. Perhaps as an act of twinning, since it should be remembered that Jesus of Nazareth is also treated as a prophet in Islam.
In addition, in the words of the president of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, it is “a tribute to Christians in the Arab world” through this Nativity scene that evokes “fortified and ancient villages” typical of Arabia, like an image from another time.
But certainly, if we go into detail, we understand that it is only a vague inspiration and not a realistic replica, far from it. To cite a few details, we observe more arched structures than those existing in reality, perhaps because they allow a better framing of the scenes. And the decoration and color of the village is not the same, being more Berber and reddish style in the case of Ait Ben Haddou.
The huddled layout of Ait Ben Haddou is ideal for a crib that can be visited from all sides, surrounding it 360 degrees. And its constructive materials, ” in adobe and woodThe “water”, do correspond to those of the ancient peoples of the biblical era. In addition, the presence of water may correspond to the humble riverbed of the Asif Ounila river. And finally, the The artisan and traditional atmosphere that reigns in every Nativity scene can, why not, be evoked even today by this fortified village, where you can still breathe a certain popular atmosphere, frozen in time, with haimas in the surroundings.
In short, a free interpretation that highlights the inspiring power that the ksar of Ait Ben Haddou still has today, as you can discover in many of our tours on the way to the desert.
