Vox has installed a traditional nativity scene in Barcelona’s Sant Jaume square, protesting Mayor Jaume Collboni’s decision not to place an official municipal crib in the historic plaza.
The political group, led locally by Ignasi Garriga, staged the two-hour installation after receiving council permission, marking the second consecutive year of such action.
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This move reignites a long-running cultural debate about how Barcelona’s central square should celebrate the festive season.
Vox Nativity Scene Protest Targets “Winter Holidays” Policy
Garriga accused the city’s socialist leadership of “erasing culture” by refusing to install a traditional nativity scene, or ‘belén’, in the square. Furthermore, he criticised the municipal branding of “winter holidays” as a “great lie”. The group’s demonstration aimed to pressure the council into what they call “recovering” Barcelona’s traditional Christmas heritage. Consequently, the event drew media attention and highlighted the ongoing political divide over public festive displays.
The controversy has deep roots, beginning during Ada Colau’s tenure as mayor. Her administration replaced the traditional nativity with more modern, secular installations, which consistently drew criticism from conservative quarters. Each year, alternative displays sparked heated debates in the council chamber and among residents. Meanwhile, public opinion on the street often focused more on aesthetic preferences than ideological battles.
Mayor Collboni’s current compromise involves projecting festive lights onto the façades of the City Hall and the Generalitat buildings that flank the square. Additionally, a traditional nativity scene is displayed inside the council building itself. However, this solution has failed to satisfy traditionalists, who argue the crib belongs in the public square as a central symbol. Therefore, Vox’s action ensures the debate remains firmly in the public eye.
The incident reflects broader tensions over cultural identity and tradition in public spaces. Similar disputes over security and public order have also been highlighted by local businesses, with Barcelona shopkeepers recently revealing security as a top concern. The nativity scene protest, while seasonal, taps into wider discussions about the city’s character and governance.
For now, Sant Jaume square will host the council’s light projections rather than a physical crib. The Vox nativity scene, permitted for a brief period, has been dismantled. Nevertheless, the political statement has been made, ensuring this particular Christmas tradition—one of division rather than unity—continues for another year. The episode demonstrates how festive symbols can become powerful focal points for ongoing cultural and political conflicts in the city.
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