Rocafort de Vallbona

The "Pessebre Vivent" (Living Nativity Scene) has been performed in Rocafort for the last 10 years. It began with the representation of just a few nativity scenes in an old house in the village and has ended up by being one of the most impressive and most visited Pessebre Vivents in the region. Now, you can see more than 30 different scenes, both indoors and outdoors. The preparation for the Pessebre Vivent begins weeks before the Christmas holidays: the streets are decorated to give an atmosphere of some 200 years ago and the old houses become living scenes befitting of the time of the first nativity. As well as the birth itself, the angel's anunciation to the shepherds and other biblical scenes are portrayed. In the Rocafort Pessebre Vivent many old professions are represented - flask-maker, potter, stonemason, farmer, rope maker, glass blower, soap maker, the carter, the baker, carpenter, etc. side by side with other scenes from daily life, such as the market place, the shop, the water well, the village green, the poor house, the olive crushers, etc. Old and young alike take part in this event which, for several days, changes the whole aspect of the village. At the end of the tour through the village a glowing bonfire, a good glass of "moscatell" - a sweet wine - and traditional sweet biscuits help to keep at bay the freezing cold which is normal at this time of year. The Pessebre vivent is performed on two or three days over the holidays, depending on how the Christmas dates fall.