SW News: As the Christmas season approaches, “balconeras” or cloth panels depicting the Nativity Scene are making their way to Argentina at the initiative of the Vicariate Center of the Archdiocese of Buenos Aires. This is being done as a means to emphasize the celebration of Christ and His presence in Christmas celebrations.

To remind people that "Christmas is Jesus," the Uruguayan idea of sticking pictures of the Nativity Scene on things like doors, windows, balconies, stained-glass windows, counters, and cars are being promoted in Argentina. As they are commonly seen on balconies, hence the name “balconeras”. They are fabric panels showing the Virgin Mary, and St Joseph holding the Child Jesus.

Balconeras are small fabric panels with an image of the Virgin Mary and Joseph holding the infant Jesus that are hung on balconies facing the street. The goal of the initiative's founders is for it to become a tradition so that the image's powerful impact can witness the arrival of Christ and restore His rightful place in all celebrations related to His birth.

The fabric balconeras are created in workshops of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Basilica, where young people from the Barracas area of Buenos Aires who have drug use issues receive support.

Catholic news outfit AICA quoted Fr Sebastian Garcia as saying that the Archdiocese of Montevideo was where the idea of balconeras originated. "We wanted to bring the idea here, it occurred to Father Jordi Sabaté and, with the team of deans and lay people with whom we encourage the pastoral care in the vicarage center, we wanted to start this new tradition this year”.

Father Garcia told AICA "The idea is to place, without a phrase other than the forcefulness of the image itself, a 28x16 inch flag in some visible place in the house, car, work, school, places where you usually We are there to simply testify, without wanting to fight anyone, that for us Christians, Christmas is Jesus.”

At Talleres del Sagrado where the balconeras are made, people from the neighborhood contribute fabrics in spite of their financial constraints. “Once the grips are attached to hold the cloth, it is stamped and can be distributed,” said the priest. He said it is very positive and the requests are increasing every day. "Many people who cannot get to assemble the manger, have lost that tradition or this Christmas are half hopeless have this proposal to be able to be the visible place of our house testimony of this image of the Nativity”.