Jesus is born in prison . Christmas 2022

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Merry Christmas! Every year I make a manger that is my interpretation of where Jesus would have been born if he had been born that same year 2022.
This year I imagined that Jesus was born in prison. I hope you like it and help you see what Christmas represents.
I have made a lively video of the manger with the narration. Here's the video of the manger with English subtitles, and then you will find the text.

At that time, it became impossible to live in their country, so they had to leave their land to look for a place where there was an opportunity. Leaving without money was impossible, so they decided to accept that some people paid them for the trip, in exchange for carrying a package.

When they started the trip, María and José were expecting their first child. Upon reaching the border, the police began to question them, but they did not understand the language. Hours later they were arrested for drug trafficking. It did not help them to say that they did not know what was in the package.

They were transferred directly to the preventive prison. Each one to a different prison. Maria had a difficult entry. The fact that she was a gypsy made her cellmates receive her with suspicion and no one wanted to share anything with her. But as she learned the language and with her sympathy and simplicity, she has won over everyone.

In her cell the days have come to an end, and tonight, suddenly, Maria has to give birth. Her cellmate has given notice and the prison officials have gone immediately to help. The Minister of Justice, who spends special nights like Christmas in a prison with the officials, has also gone to the cell and since she is a doctor, she has been involved in the birth.

Because of the screams, the other inmates have woken up – since in prison there is no privacy – and the officials have explained that María who was giving birth. The news has spread like wildfire. From her cells, the other women have followed the birth encouraging Maria. Two inmates who are nurses have helped Maria to give birth successfully. All the prisoners have congratulated Maria.

After giving birth, the minister has requested to issue a permit so that, the next day, her partner could visit her.

Those in charge of the prison say that they will consider options for this child to grow  up outside these walls, because these periods of preventive prisons, that can be so long, are very unfair.

The case, which has been on the front page of newspapers and television news, has generated a vivid debate about the role of prison in our society. We cannot accept that it is mainly for poor people and that it does not offer solutions and alternatives.  The prison should be a space for rehabilitation and not for punishment.

On January 6th, the Government, moved by the case, wants to approve a several measures to speed up trials, introduce restorative justice in judicial procedures, both for convicted and pre-trial prisoners, and ensure that the purpose of the prison is reinsertion and not punishment. It is also considering the option of creating, in the prison itself, a module for families.

Knowing this, they have all decided that the child will be called Jesus, which means "the savior", because this child will really be their salvation.

From Bethlehem prison, for TV Bethlehem, Laia Bonet.

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MORE INFORMATION:

FOTOS: http://bit.ly/GFNadal22FotosPessebre  

VIDEO: http://bit.ly/Nadal22PessebreVIDEO 

PREVIOUS YEARS VIDEOS : http://bit.ly/VIDEOSpessebresFRMAT 

SONG :  https://bit.ly/Nadal22PessebreMUSICA

Christmas 2017: My vision of Christmas

Jesus, son of "manters"*

Merry Christmas! Every year I make a nativity scene that is my interpretation of where Jesus would have been born if he had been born that same year 2017. This year I imagined that he was born "manter"*. It could be in many cities where people like them try to survive often, with the only thing they can do, because of their legal situation. But I have set it up in Barcelona and I wanted to have a reminder for the terrorist attack this summer. Playmobil's children, as always, have shaped ideas. I hope you like it and help you see what Christmas represents. Video this year is a lively video. Here is the chronicle and also the video of the manger.

And now, let’s connect with our mobile unit in Les Rambles

Today, Les Rambles witnessed an unexpected event. After running away from the police, the “manters”* took shelter in the subway, as usual, as they cannot be detained inside the subway premises.
A young couple from the “manters” group were expecting a baby. After running away, she felt bad just as she entered the subway. She started suffering labor pain and she gave birth to their first child with the help of a midwife who accidentally was leaving the subway.

The remaining “manters” who were hiding with them from the police, approached the place where she gave birth. Through their WhatsApp group, the news have spread, and other “manters” are coming from both the port and the store of their own brand "top Manta". The news have also come to the support group "Tras La Manta" which is already in the place of the events. They have warned the press, and we are also reaching the place.

With the small amount of money they collected that day, they have bought the mother food and garments to wrap the baby that rests on a blanket.
In seeing the solidarity and the crowd gathering around, the police decided to stay apart and not to intervene.
Around the entrance of the subway, people are crowding in. Ordinary citizens are also approaching and bringing things. Others are coming from the mosaic of Miró and said, with deep feelings, that the same Rambla that had known the dead some months ago, it was now showing life at its best.

Voice is spreading and people are looking for a suitable home for the new family. We have been told they have already been offered a flat and tomorrow they will be able to move there.

Everyone is happy and Les Rambles is full of people. So crowded that it looks like when the Barça wins! The “manters” keep on selling their stuff. Among them, they say that this child is his Savior. The newborn child already wears a pair of Nike shoes, a Barça T-shirt and sunglasses.

The authorities, seeing the citizens' response, have decided to deal once and for all with the situation of the “manters” and committed themselves to find a solution for January 6th. The mayor who has come to see the newborn has also reaffirmed this decision.

From Les Rambles, Laia Bonet for TVBetlem.

VIDEO:  http://bit.ly/Nadal17PessebreVIDEO
FOTOS:  - http://bit.ly/FBNadal17FotosPessebre o
             - http://bit.ly/GFNadal17FotosPessebre

*Manter: Person usually sub-Saharan who is selling in the street in an illegal way because of lack of documentation that does not allow him to do a normal work