Llanilltud Fawr – Llantwit Major

Real camels for Brecon’s live nativity

 

The Brecon Big Christmas!    Event photo-story….

The New Library in Llantwit Major is being developed by the cultural facilitation organisation Coleridge Cymru and comes out of the Landscapes of Faith festival.  Coleridge Cymru were delighted to help and work closely with communities in Brecon to create the 2023 Brecon Big Christmas which saw live camels on the Uplands Estate and streets of Brecon, and over a thousand people taking part and enjoying the Christmas spectacle.

Following the live nativity procession on Christmas Eve St Mary’s Church in the town centre was completely filled for Christmas Carols.  Anna, Emma, Richard, Churches Together in Brecon, the Brecon Ministry Area, Brecon Town Council and all the supporters and builders of this event would like to thank EVERYONE who got involved, contributed and made this day a wonderful memorable occasion in the life of the town. Thank you to each and every one of you who has made this possible. It is a truly wonderful thing.

Here’s the story in pictures!  Photographs by James Bessant Davies

The day began with shepherds at the Maendu Well.  A chance to spend time with the sheep.

 

The donkey arrives on the field.

 

The angels set off from the Uplands to find the shepherds.

 

They walked in strong winds…

 

….. accompanied by a Samba band!

 

The angels arrive at Maendu Well to make an announcement to shepherds.

 

On the Uplands Field the star sets off to find the kings and the camels.

 

The kings and camels depart from Maes-y-Ffynnon.

 

Crossing to Bron-y-Crug.

 

A Christmas present for the children of Brecon – live camels of the Uplands Estate.

 

The camels and kings arrive on the Uplands Field.

 

The Christ child, Jesus, has been born in a garden shed.

 

The live nativity celebration on the Uplands Field warmed participants and visitors by giving out over 700 free mugs of hot chocolate, soup and bread.

 

The shepherds visit the baby born in the garden shed.

 

The party of kings visiting the Uplands garden shed include the Mayor of Brecon.

 

Musicians on the field.

 

Stars prepare to lead the procession into Brecon town centre.

 

The Brecon Big Christmas was the vision of Rev. Anna Bessant (pictured right) and with her co-organiser Rev. Emma Franks (pictured left) they distributed a thousand bars of Christmas chocolate and Christmas story books on the Uplands field.

 

The procession set off for the town centre led by the star…

 

….. with sheep and shepherds

 

….. with camels and kings

 

….. and a large crowd. The procession made its way with Mary, Joseph and Jesus past the Castle Hotel, where members from the Town Band played Christmas carols for the parade and crowds.

 

A large crowd in the town centre awaits the arrival of the Christmas procession.

 

The celebration with live camels crosses the river bridge and enters Brecon town centre.

 

Camels and kings arriving at St Mary’s Church.

 

The shepherds, sheep, donkey, Mary and Joseph form a living tableaux with the new-born child Jesus outside St Mary’s Church.

 

Crowds wait to see the Christmas nativity tableaux in the town centre.

 

Jesus, Mary and the donkey.

 

Outside St Mary’s Church, Brecon in a temporary stable.

 

Crowds taking part in the celebratory atmosphere of Christmas Eve.

 

The 2023 Brecon Big Christmas.

 

And just in case any of you are wondering if the baby in the Brecon Big Christmas was an actual baby, here’s a final Christmas photo of  the mother Mary and infant Jesus…

 

Pob bendith!

Every blessing!

 

Read more about the Brecon Big Nativity:

ITV News:  https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2023-12-25/real-camels-walk-through-brecon-streets-for-living-nativity

Cwlwm Magazine: https://cwlwm.substack.com/p/in-brecon-as-it-was-in-bethlehem