The Walking Nativity in Atherton, Greater Manchester, has been a Christmas staple for 15 years but residents feared it could be under threat due to some issues surrounding donkeys
A festive tradition in a Greater Manchester town was thrown into chaos over fears a cherished Christmas event may have been under threat. The Walking Nativity, a live enactment of the biblical Nativity story, has been a staple of Atherton’s holiday season for over 10 years.
Local schoolchildren participate in the procession through the town centre, led by two primary school pupils portraying Mary and Joseph, atop working donkeys brought in from Blackpool.
In the performance, ‘Mary and Joseph’ knock on several pubs before seeking shelter at Atherton Parish Church. Here, the remainder of Jesus’ birth narrative is acted out, accompanied by carol singing, reports the Manchester Evening News.
Brian and Eileen Seddon, a husband-and-wife team who also organise the annual Atherton Festival, have spearheaded the event for the past 15 years.
This year’s spectacle was scheduled for December 5. However, the couple, aged 81 and 82, were disheartened to discover that council policy might prevent it from proceeding.
“We didn’t know that Wigan Council have a policy where you cannot use live animals in events,” Brian revealed to the M. E.N. “We weren’t aware of this. It’s two primary school children sat on the donkeys for about 20 minutes.
“Our local school and family health centre are involved in the parade, and both of them are under council jurisdiction. So they informed me that they couldn’t be involved due to this policy, so it looked like we had to cancel.”
Wigan Council has revealed their ‘internal approach’ since 2023 has been to avoid using live animals during events for ‘entertainment purposes’.
“This is a community event, and the organising committee should make their own decision, noting the importance of animal welfare,” they stated to the M. E.N. The announcement was made on Facebook on Friday evening (November 7), triggering outrage amongst locals.
“You are joking! ! ! !” one user posted on the Friends of Atherton Parks group. “There’s nothing like this event anywhere else the children are amazing and the donkeys are perfectly well looked after and cared for!
“I am so sad this has happened its the highlight of the year in Atherton.”
Another resident wrote: “We should go ahead as a town and allow the magic and community spirit to continue,” adding “Who do they think they are?”.
One furious local complained: “Folk can let explosions of for a month terrifying every animal on the estate and nowts done about it yet a couple of donkeys can’t be used for a nativity play,” branding it a ‘pathetic woke decision’.
However, organiser Brian described the controversy as ‘a massive misunderstanding’.
“I have no issue with Wigan Council,” he insisted. “I got in touch with a local councillor who spoke to the council and an arrangement was made, and it was accepted.
“We assured them we would look after them and that everything would be above board, and they changed their minds. After talking it over together, common sense prevailed.”
In a Saturday morning update (November 8), local independent councillor Stuart Gerrard confirmed on the Atherton Residents Association group that the event would indeed be taking place.
“This is fantastic news for our community, and I truly hope everyone comes out to show their support for this fantastic event,” he wrote.
“It seems there was a bit of confusion among some officers regarding the council’s policy on the use of animals in community-run events versus council-run events and this wasn’t relayed properly to the organisers.
“The officer in charge has apologised sincerely, and I’m very pleased that everything has now been cleared up so the event can go ahead as planned.”
The announcement quickly garnered over 600 likes and 200 comments. “Brilliant news. At least someone has seen common sense,” Jimmy Bunting responded.
Another resident chimed in: “Whichever councillor or official thought long and hard regarding the outpouring of anger from the people of Atherton. We will not be silenced, people power at its best.”
Sue Cooke added her voice to the chorus of approval: “Power to the people. Wigan forget how Atherton folk work. Brilliant”.
Reflecting on the strong community sentiment behind the event, Brian said: “It’s the start of the Christmas celebrations for the town.
“It’s a big community event, whole families get involved to watch the parade and go to church afterwards – we get huge crowds.”
Brian, a proud resident of the Hag Fold area, was honoured with a British Empire Medal in 2019 for his tireless efforts in managing various community and youth groups in the town.
At the ripe age of 81, he’s still going strong, although he admits that organising the Nativity event is no small feat.
He explained: “You’ve got to make sure the children taking part are safe and organise 40 or 50 stewards to make sure traffic is kept at bay”.
He added: “You’ve got to build a stable, get the band together, inform all the schools, find a baby to play the part of Jesus. It’s a very unique event.”
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