Brecon welcomed Christmas in style this year with a spectacular living Nativity through its streets, featuring three live camels.
The community came together on Christmas Eve to take part in the procession, which travelled from The Uplands estate in Brecon into the heart of the town.
The spectacle brought the Christmas story to life for Brecon residents with real sheep, a donkey and three camels.
The activity began on the Uplands estate, high up on the edge in Brecon overlooking the Bannau Brycheiniog, where community preparations have been in progress for many weeks.
Families and residents gathered for hot chocolate, took part in willow workshops and costume activities, and awaited the arrival of the characters of the Christmas story onto the Uplands Field.
The donkey came on to the field first, and then from the hill behind the town, sheep and shepherds arrived.
At 3pm the image from countless Christmas cards of three camels and a star made their way across the Uplands and estate and joined the celebrations, where children and families spent time with the animals.
At 3:45pm the spectacle travelled through the Uplands estate to the town centre, where it was greeted by packed streets for a Christmas eve community carol service in the medieval St Mary’s Church.
The project is the inspiration of Rev Anna Bessant, who has brought many community groups in the town together with the support of Brecon Town Council and local churches, creating the large scale Christmas spectacle for the town.
“The camels are a Christmas present for the children of The Uplands”, said Anna. “We wanted to tell the Christmas story in an open, fun way to bring people joy and laughter. The sight of real camels on your doorstep can’t help but bring a smile. People want to see the Christmas story painted big, and this Brecon Big Christmas certainly brings the traditional story to life in a sparkling way that everyone can take part in.”
The event has given out 1000 gifts of chocolate with a Christmas story book to children who attended the celebration on the Uplands field, with free refreshments.
Members of the public dressed to take part in the procession but the day was contemporary mixed in with the ancient shepherds and kings.
“It is a blend of ancient and modern,” said Rev Anna. “People are here as Kings, Queens, Princesses, Princes, politicians, celebrities and the rich and powerful. That’s what the story tells us, that the wise and powerful came to the Christmas stable. It’s the same with the shepherds. As well as traditional shepherds we’re asking people to reflect those who are outcasts in society, and refugees, and those dispossessed. It’s a mix of celebration and remembering those who are struggling and outsiders this Christmas.”
Members from Brecon Town Band greeted the procession with carols at 4pm as it arrived at the Castle Hotel, and when the procession with donkey, sheep and camels resumed it moved through Castle Street to St Mary’s Church through packed streets for singing, mulled wines and mince pies.
Helping to organise the celebrations Rev Emma Franks from Kensington Baptist church, said: “It’s important to remember that the Christmas story takes place outside, in fields, on roads, in busy hotels, on pavements, in rough shelters, and not inside churches! It’s so exciting to be painting the story big with people across Brecon. We hope it will be memorable and bring joy this Christmas.”