On Christmas Eve, more than 200 people took part in a 'Living Nativity' celebration at a Breconshire village.

The celebration, organised by the local churches and community, returned to Talybont-on-Usk after a three-year absence due to Covid.

This popular local event has two parts. In the first part, Mary, Joseph and the ‘donkey’ (actually a Shetland pony this year) walk through the village looking for somewhere to spend the night. They are followed by the attending crowd who sing carols to torchlight, ably led by Aber farmer and baritone Glasnant Morgan.

No room at The White Hart Inn
No room for Mary and Joseph at the White Hart Inn (.)

As they reach each village pub - the White Hart and the Star (aptly named) - Joseph knocks on the pub door to ask the innkeeper if they have a room to stay. Finding that each inn is fully occupied, they are then told to try Talybont Farm in the centre of the village, where they might find shelter. This year and for this part, Joseph and Mary were played by Rob Francis and his daughter Elsie with her pony Cocoa.

Elsie said: “It was really nice to take part. I’d not expected there would be such a crowd, but Cocoa was very well behaved."

Next, for the second part, farmer John Jenkins had already cleared out and prepared a large barn complete with manger area for the Holy Family of Joseph, Mary and Jesus as well as rows of hay bale seating for the crowd. In this part, the Holy Family is usually played by a local couple who have recently had a baby. The parents sit down by the manger and an angel brings the baby Jesus to them. Everyone sings carols to musical accompaniment and the Christmas story is retold.

This year’s Holy Family were in fact Ukrainian refugees - Vadym, Maryna and children - now living locally in Llangynidr. Their baby daughter, appropriately named Emmanuela, was born in a bomb shelter in a town near the Polish border, just before they escaped across the border and eventually made their way here.

Revd Liz Bramley explained: “Jesus was also born in an uncomfortable and unexpected place, and had to flee the country with his family to escape from murderous King Herod. The parallels of these two stories makes aspects of the Christmas story suddenly very relevant to us all."

Before his closing prayer, Revd Kelvin Richards - priest-in-charge of the Beacons Benefice said: “Thanks to everyone who has helped to make this year’s Living Nativity a really successful and meaningful community event, and particularly Talybont Farm, our two Marys and Josephs and family, our local musicians, and our crowd of followers.”

Speaking afterwards, Maryna said: “People here in Wales have been so kind to welcome our family to live and work here. It has been a great honour to taking part in your Living Nativity tonight. God bless you all.”

A bucket collection for the British Red Cross Ukraine Crisis Appeal was held during the event and raised £470.

For further information on this event and local churches in the Talybont-on-Usk area, search for ‘Beacons Benefice’ on Google.