Every night, starting at seven, neighbors and families gather in front of the manger.
In the town of Kennedy, in the Nuevo Techo sector, Christmas took shape from what many consider waste. There, the community meets every week around a manger built entirely with recycled materials, which became a meeting point for neighbors of all ages.
The work is the creation of Ariel Aristizábal, an empirical artist and resident of the sector, who decided to transform waste such as paper, cardboard, broken glass, tubes and mechanical parts into a large format manger, collecting the material for about two years.
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“This nativity scene is made with recycled material, with material that the residents themselves collect from the shut, from the garbage. So, that material has been used to create this beautiful nativity scene (…)” said Aristizábal.
He added that “here we create the figure of the Egyptian landscape. More or less, here we follow the most recent structures of the town, the river, the different houses and, finally, we reach the source.”
Collected material
The materials, collected by the neighborhood residents themselves, take on a new life in a structure that surprises with its level of detail and creativity. More than a classic representation of the birth, the montage proposes a visual journey through different civilizations and landscapes, which culminates in the central scene of the manger.
“Yes, the idea has been around for many years because, with our minds, we are descendants and we have always liked to create this type of nativity scene,” he explained.
Work spaces
Between mountains, rivers, houses and structures inspired even by Egyptian culture, the visitor can appreciate how discarded elements become settings full of symbolism.
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For Ariel Aristizábal, the objective goes beyond the aesthetic. The initiative seeks to send a clear message about caring for the planet and the importance of reducing waste that ends up in the streets and landfills.
Singing of the novenas
The proposal has had a positive reception from the community. Every night, starting at seven, neighbors and families gather in front of the manger to pray the novenas, strengthening community ties and recovering a tradition that unites generations.
Once the Christmas season ends and the Three Kings celebrations are over, the structure will be dismantled with the intention of reusing the materials.
The plan, according to its creator, is to expand it next year, make it even bigger and more ambitious, with the goal of adding several more meters and continuing to involve the community in its construction.
Source: Integrated Information System
