A baby Jesus figurine was stolen from a nativity display in the historic district of Brussels, Belgium. The culprit has not yet been apprehended, and despite early reports, the infant Jesus was not decapitated.
The theft may be linked to conflict online regarding the figures, which was sparked when they were put on display. The cloth figures, residing inside a small tent that sits below a towering Christmas tree, lack facial features such as eyes, noses, and mouths, as part of a design choice by artist Victoria-Maria Geyer. The name of the display is “Étoffes de la Nativité,” which translates to “Nativity Fabrics.”
The figures, deliberately vague, are designed not to be representative of any place of origin, in hopes that all of those who saw the nativity may see part of themselves, and feel recognized, regardless of where their beliefs may stem from. Geyer wishes that “every Catholic, regardless of their background or origins can identify themselves” within the nativity.
It is common for public displays, particularly nativities, to be tampered with. Victor Kanyanzira, speaking for the Brussels mayor, said that “it happens every year, unfortunately. The head is quickly replaced.”
Most of the backlash has stayed on social media, however. Georges-Louis Bouchez, politician and head of the Reformist Movement, a right-leaning Belgian party, had criticisms to share. In a post on Twitter, now X, Bouchez shared that the “nativity scene is an insult to our traditions. It must be replaced immediately. It is unacceptable how our traditions are crumbling under the guise of inclusivity.” Bouchez further remarked that the figures looked “more like zombies at Brussels stations than a real nativity scene.”
That being said, the negativity shared online did not last, and according to Geyer, the input from social media had moved towards a positive light. Geyer, in an interview with the media, emphasized her hope that the nativity could be used to characterize the spirit of Christmas.
“Christmas is truly a time of joy and sharing, of which the nativity scene is a very dear part,” Geyer said.
The damage itself was undone when city officials replaced the Jesus figurine, but the theft left a mark that was not visible to the eye. In a comment to the Associated Press, Brussels citizen Francis De Laveleye remarked that “what is intolerable is that people attack the work of an artist to damage it and to turn it into a kind of stupid little controversy that ridicules Brussels.”
Geyer furthermore wished that people could share in the community created by the holiday. “[I hope that] that everyone finds themselves in this joy and at the end of the year in kindness and human warmth,” Geyer said.
