Over the years, the Sand Nativity Scene has transcended the traditional Christmas themes: it has been reinterpreted to also pay homage to the Canary Islands, local painters and sculptors, culture, education, youth, and the traditions of the Canarian people. Each grain of sand tells a story that is both unique and universal, and in this diversity lies the distinctive essence of each year's Nativity Scene.
Behind these works are the hands of Canarian artists such as Etal Ojeda, Jonay Ruiz, Miguel Rodríguez, Aarón Jimenez, and many other national and international sculptors, who each year give shape to carefully crafted scenes, with an artistic proposal that mixes classical styles with modernist and avant-garde styles as bridges between tradition and contemporaneity, showing the relevance of the themes represented.
The Sand Nativity Scene is not just art: it's also a commitment to solidarity. Since its inception, all proceeds have gone to soup kitchens and local causes, providing tangible support to those most in need and highlighting its profound humanitarian character. Furthermore, the event has created sand sculpture workshops for children and young people, fostering creativity and artistic learning from an early age.
Twenty years later, the sculpting continues with the same passion. While the winter chill grips mainland Europe, the islands celebrate a bright, open-air Christmas, perfectly in harmony with the ideal climate. Here, the sand, the enthusiasm, and the creativity that make the Sand Nativity Scene so unique are renewed.
Thus arrives the 20th edition: an event dedicated to Gran Canaria that will undoubtedly mark a turning point in the history of this Nativity scene. The event will feature a retrospective exhibition, a commemorative book, and a tribute to the artist Néstor Martín-Fernández de la Torre, in addition to parallel activities such as choral concerts, workshops, and the Stars of Culture awards.
An exceptional example of the effort and love of all the institutions that support it, the tireless work of the team that makes it possible, and the drive of an entire community that embraces it every year as an essential part of its history. Because the Sand Nativity Scene is much more than an ephemeral work: it is the living reflection of the Christmas spirit of Gran Canaria, carved in the sand and in everyone's memory.
