Christmas comes to the Canary Islands in a unique way, with its traditional Christmas image carved into the beach sand. It opened its doors on Sand crib in Las Palmas de Gran Canariaan ephemeral work of art with which the … the island celebrates Christmas on Las Canteras beach.
On this occasion, with a tribute to Néstor Martín-Fernández de la Torre in its 20th edition, the crèche shares space with bathers and visitors, who will come to see this work with a limited duration until next January 8.
The pieces that bring this special 20th anniversary edition to life were cast by a dozen international stoneware sculptors, using approximately 1,500 cubic meters of sand on an area of approximately 1,500 square meters in the La Puntilla neighborhood, near the Plaza de Saulo Torón.
The artistic team of international sculptors who modeled the nativity scene in almost record time, also taking into account the unfavorable weather conditions of last weekend, is composed of: Etual Ojeda, Gran Canaria; Jan Zelinka, Czech Republic; David Billings, Canada; Isabelle Gasse, Canada; Jamie Louks, United States; Kevin Crawford, Australia; Sue McGrew, United States; Fergus Mulvany, Ireland; and Bentejuí Ojeda, Gran Canaria.
With more than 3 million visitors accumulated over two decades and nearly 260,000 visits in 2024 alone, the Sand Crib is one of the most recognized Christmas cultural projects. This edition once again brings together tradition, art and social commitment, reaffirming its position as a reference for ephemeral art and as one of the main attractions of the city on these dates.
Donations from the public will go to soup kitchens of the capital of Gran Canaria thanks to the commitment of the La Caixa Foundation, which contributes 6,000 euros to support their work.
The canteens that will receive public solidarity are the Nuestra Señora del Carmen canteen, the San Pedro canteen, the Santo Domingo canteen, the La Paz parish canteen and the canteen of the Rescate Juvenil social association.
On the occasion of this 20th anniversary, a tenth commemorative coin of the 2025 Christmas Lottery was issued, the image of which is inspired by the nativity scene. were issued six million tenths which are already circulating throughout Spain for the draw on December 25.
Bethlehem will remain open every day until January 8, with free admission, inviting residents and visitors to enjoy a unique journey where Christmas, art and island identity meet facing the ocean.
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