Date Published: 05/12/2023
VIDEO: Young British holidaymakers trash nativity scene in Cadiz, Andalucia
The figure of Baby Jesus was a focal point of the Christmas decorations in the centre of Jerez
![VIDEO: Young British holidaymakers trash nativity scene in Cadiz, Andalucia](https://murciatoday.com//images/articles/23/12/2298322__11701777839_large.png)
Locals of the Cádiz municipality of Jerez de la Frontera were left horrified and appalled this week when a group of boisterous holidaymakers was filmed scrambling all over the city’s Christmas centrepiece.
Each December, the Monumental Nativity Scene is given pride of place in front of the church, where the eagerly-anticipated Three Wise Men parade culminates on January 5. But for the last few years, vandals have targeted the beautiful manger and spoiled the emblematic Christmas scene.
On Friday morning December 1, residents were dismayed to find the statue of Baby Jesus in the middle of the street, having been removed from his manger and smashed to bits.
Shockingly, just a few hours later, footage emerged which shows a gang of young British tourists hopping the fence in front of the life-size Nativity scene and climbing all over the figurines.
🔴🔴VIDEO atentan contra el Belén monumental de Santo Domingo en Jerez 🔴🔴 pic.twitter.com/FCtGnYlxSA
— COFRADEMANIA (@cofrademania) December 1, 2023
They were surprised by a police officer who repeatedly shouted at the boys to get out of the Nativity and they scarpered before any real damage could be done, while the man can be heard muttering “English sons of b*****s” under his breath.
Meanwhile, Jerez City Council is now trying to decide whether the damaged figurine can be repaired or if they will have to purchase a new one.
Sadly, this kind of mindless vandalism is far from uncommon in the Cádiz municipality. One morning in 2018, several of the Nativity figures woke up with clay pots from the scene upturned on their heads and in 2014, the infant disappeared only to turn up a few days later smashed under a car in the Santiago neighbourhood.
And back in 2019, some hooligans broke the arms and legs off the statues of Baby Jesus and the Virgin Mary.
Image: @ionztomo16
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