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San Javier's festive double delight: Playmobil and crochet Nativities light up the museum
Over 2,000 plastic figures and 200 handmade yarn scenes bring Christmas magic to life until 6 January
San Javier brings Christmas to life in miniature this year with two very different, but equally charming, Nativity scenes at its museum. If you enjoy a festive display with a twist, this is a lovely one to add to your list.The star attraction is the return of the Playmobil Nativity, filling one of the San Javier Museum’s rooms with more than 2,000 of the famous plastic figures. The set belongs to the Murcian association Sureclick, who have taken care of the detailed assembly, with sponsorship from FCC, the company that runs the municipality’s cleaning service.
Culture councillor David Martínez describes it as “a Hebrew nativity scene, in the classic style, depicting the main glorious mysteries of the birth of Jesus.” He adds that the display “shows the universality of the Playmobil brand and the ability of thousands of pieces to adapt and offer us an almost theatrical set design and staging that takes us back to the times of the birth of Jesus.”
The exhibition was officially opened by mayor José Miguel Luengo, alongside councillors David Martínez and María Dolores Ruiz, and regional director Fernando de Mateo, with local schoolchildren among the first to enjoy the scene.
In the next room, visitors will find a completely different take on the Christmas story: a handmade crochet Nativity by San Javier resident Maika García. Every element, from the human figures to the trees and decorations, is crafted in yarn, with plenty of colour and a traditional feel.Maika explains that she has been creating the figures for four years and first showed them two years ago with about half the number she has now. Today, her set has grown to more than 200 pieces. “Crochet is a hobby that helps me relax when I’m not working,” she says, and she is already thinking about new additions to keep expanding the display.
Mayor Luengo highlighted San Javier’s strong Nativity tradition and encouraged everyone to visit the full route of displays around the municipality. This includes the Nativity Scene of Spain, one of the largest in Europe, the maritime Nativity of Santiago de la Ribera, the rural scene of La Grajuela, the Nativity of the Marchioness in the Town Hall, and the Playmobil and crochet Nativities in the San Javier Museum. He also thanked all those involved, as well as FCC, noting that the Playmobil scene “attracts thousands of visitors each year.”
Both Nativity scenes at the museum can be visited free of charge every day from 10.00am to 2.00pm and from 5.00pm to 9.00pm, closing only on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.Images: Ayuntamiento de San Javier
