Bethlehem f’Għajnsielem is an animated Nativity village currently set up in Gozo spread over 20,000 square metres of land.

About 150 actors are animating the village.

The experience offers visitors a naturalistic reproduction of the environ of the sacred city of Bethlehem and the timeless Nativity story.

The ‘village’ is brought to life with around 150 actors animating the crib, including three newborns. The atmosphere is quite unique, with horses turning mills, villagers going about their jobs, shepherds inhabiting caves, animals roaming in enclosed spaces and a poor, unknown couple tending to their new infant surrounded by a donkey and a cow in a grotto.

The small village of Għajnsielem is just a five-minute walk from Mġarr Harbour. On entering the crib, visitors are given a map which helps to enhance the overall experience.

Attractions include the carpenter and blacksmith’s dwellings, the bakery, a market selling fresh fruit, fish and vegetables, a tavern, a local crafts area and a barn. Running water flows along by the structures through a small stream with various water features.

Each dwelling is inhabited and animated by whole families, reminding everyone that Christmas is a family celebration. The tavern offers local food and wine and a picnic area is set up on Sundays. Those who wish to visit at night can do so assisted by the light emitted by oil lamps distributed on site.

A real-life baby representing Baby Jesus is the star attraction of the Nativity village.

The event also includes re-enactments of the journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem undertaken by Joseph and Mary as well as a visit by the Magi for the feast of the Epiphany (this year on January 8), when the Three Wise Men depart on horseback from Malta to the Ċirkewwa terminal where they will board a ferry in the mid-afternoon before making the triumphal entrance to the Nativity village.

Live animation takes place at specific times as follows, weather permitting: today and tomorrow, from 9.30am to 12.30pm with the extraordinary participation of children from the Għajnsielem primary school; Christmas Day and New Year’s Day from 3.30pm to 8pm; December 26 and 31 from 2.30pm to 7.30pm; January 7 from 4.30pm to 8pm; and January 8 from 2pm to 8pm.

■ Entrance to Bethlehem f’Għajnsielem is free and no booking is required. Organised tours are welcome. While use of public transport is encouraged, parking is available at the Għajnsielem FC football grounds. The location is a short walk up the hill from the Mġarr Ferry Terminal. For more information, call the local council on 2156 1515 or visit www.ghajnsielem.com/bethlehem. Bethlehem f’ Għajnsielem is sponsored by the Għajnsielem local council with the assistance and support of the Ministry for Gozo, the village of Għajnsielem and various non-governmental organisations.