(25 Dec 1996) Spanish/Nat
In Venezuela, the people of Caracas are celebrating Christmas in a big way this year.
A giant baby Jesus has taken up residence on a hill in Petare, while a giant stained glass Christmas tree now graces the streets near the Presidential Palace.
The Mayor of Caracas says that these giant icons of the Christmas season inspire hope in Venezuelan people, currently in the grip of an economic crisis.
High above the freeway traffic, workmen set about building a giant Christmas gift to the people of Caracas.
This giant icon of the baby Jesus is positioned to gaze over the poverty-stricken shanty towns on the other side of the valley.
The mayor believes it will be an inspiration to the poor that populate the surrounding areas.
SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
"We are here with a baby Jesus which is over 15 metres long - the largest baby Jesus made in the world. His arms are open to all the areas that suffer so that together we can take the message of faith, hope, and optimism that the people of Venezuela will come out ahead".
SUPER CAPTION: Roul Bermudez, Mayor of the municipality of Sucre
This baby Jesus is the brain child of the same man who recently strapped a giant Santa Claus to the side of a helicopter and visited shanty towns across Venezuela, distributing presents to the children.
SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
"Baby Jesus it has a metal structure, then reinforced in glass, then plastic and papier mache"
SUPER CAPTION: Juan Carlos Nieves, Designer
A short distance away downtown, the city streets are lit up by the glow of a giant stained glass Christmas tree.
Gracing a square near the Presidential Palace, locals looked on in awe at this towering glass symbol.
SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
"It's impressive. One says, well with the situation the country is in, how can we make these beautiful things that heighten our pride in Venezuela?"
SUPER CAPTION: Vox Pop
Others have expressed delight and surprise that this fragile structure has not yet been vandalised.
Perhaps that is the most potent sign of pride and hope in a country of profound economic and social hardship.
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