University College Cork nativity display highlights horror in Gaza

University College Cork (UCC) will be displaying a rubble-strewn nativity manger scene on campus during the lead up to Christmas.

The project, constructed by carpenters working at UCC, provides a thought provoking reflection on the university’s stance of solidarity with the people of Gaza.

The manger will be on display on the walkway between the President’s Garden and the student centre until December 20.

Global human rights organisation Amnesty International has said that from their own research they have found a sufficient basis to conclude that Israel has committed, and continues to commit, genocide against the people of Gaza.

To spread awareness of the conflict and to encourage others to stand in solidarity with Palestinians, staff at UCC are inviting the public to come and see the rubble nativity scene.

Hope

While visiting the manger, guests are asked to think about the people of Gaza and to hope for the gift of freedom and peace for those who have suffered immensely over this past year.

“The project is a further representation of the hardship that those living in Gaza have had to endure during the conflict, and reminds people that while Christmas is a time of joy, it will not be the same for the hundreds of thousands who remain living in a war-torn country,” A spokesperson said.

The crib scene depicts a new take on the traditional nativity story, where the Christmas star is shining above a destroyed Gaza, while the baby lies wrapped in a keffiyeh amongst the rubble.

Rubble

Characters in the scene include Mary, Joseph, the angel, the three wise men, the shepherd and the animals, who are all seen searching through the rubble for the baby, reflecting a tragic act that many Palestinians have been forced to do throughout the past 12 months.

Among the animals is a grey donkey, which was donated to UCC by Cork Deaf Enterprises, that represents the original donkey from the nativity story from 2,000 years ago.

Traditionally, the donkey was said to have carried Mary to Bethlehem, where she then gave birth to Jesus Christ in a stable after she and Joseph had been turned away from an inn.