The splendid days leading up to Christmas are made even more magical by gorgeously decorated Christmas trees and charming nativity scenes. Musement shares five of the world’s most spectacular nativities.
The Christmas season is magical: lights, garland, snow, Christmas trees, Christmas markets, ornaments and, of course, the nativity. A lot of thought goes into this traditional Christmas ritual. Firstly, the scene should reproduce Christ’s birth as closely as possible: A sandy, riverless landscape rich with shrubs and flowers, studded with white houses and featuring an inn and a cave. Next, the different statues are arranged to depict the shepherds and characters who witness the birth of Jesus, followed by Mary and Joseph, who start their journey on December 1, moving closer to the inn each day, finally reaching it on Christmas Eve with their ox and the donkey in tow. On the night of December 24, baby Jesus is placed in a manger surrounded by angels. Lastly, a comet is added over the grotto as a signal for the Magi who arrive from afar with gifts on January 6, the Epiphany.
The nativity tradition is rooted in Catholicism, so they were not permitted in the European Lutheran countries for centuries, contrary to the Christmas tree custom which made no effort to assert itself. The ban was lifted in the 1920s and since then, the nativity has become a Swedish Christmas tradition, often found in hospitals and churches, while in Finland it is common practice for school children to interpret the nativity.
The nativity boasts diverse traditions, often reinterpreted with different customs depending on the location. Here are five spectacular nativities found throughout the world.
1.Naples
The nativity tradition of Naples is undoubtedly the world’s most famous and consists of two parts: the mystery and the partition. The mystery contains Mary, Joseph, Jesus, the angels, the ox and the donkey while partition houses a tavern, the proclamation and the market. The scene does not take place in Bethlehem, but rather a mountain landscape with a brightly colored background in shades of pink, ochre and brick to resemble a winter sunset. The many characters include the beggar, the lame man, the blind, the glory of the angels, the gypsy, the Benin (a sleeping pastor that misses out on the action) and at the end, the Three Kings with the Moors are added.
The nativity scene is a very important part of Neapolitan culture: in fact, not only is Naples’ Via San Gregorio Armeno home to the world’s oldest and most visited workshops of nativity scene artisans (travelers love to buy both traditional figurines and those that depict politicians and celebrities), but the Museum of Capodimonte, has an entire area dedicated to the history of the nativity starting with the 16th century. Moreover, the play Christmas in the Cupiello Home by unforgettable Neapolitan playwright Eduardo De Filippo, revolves around the protagonist’s mania for the nativity preparation. In fact, te piace o presepio?, or do you like the crib?, is the final line.
2. Piedmont
Piedmont in northern Italy has a local Nativity tradition that includes a statue of Gelindo who, according to tradition, provided hospitality for Mary and Joseph in his hut before they arrived in Bethlehem. He’s usually represented playing the Italian bagpipes with a lamb sitting on his shoulders. The theater also honors Gelindo in a play written in the local dialect that is a half-sacred/half-comic representation of the Christmas season. The script recounts how Gelindo, a grumpy pastor with heart of gold, leaves his home in Monferrato to visit Bethlehem for the emperor’s census, subsequently meeting and helping Joseph and Mary.
Gelindo, a figure with a lamb on his shoulders who always appears in the nativity scenes of Piedmont
3. Catalunya
The Catalunya region of Spain features a character who is not found in any other nativity scene: the Caganer. Um… yes, it is so named for the very reason that you imagine. His statue is a shepherd crouching with his pants down, and wearing a typical Catalan red beret and a belt. Someplace the caganer in the middle of the scene while others place him in a somewhat more secluded position, well-suited to his purpose. It’s natural to question the presence of this statue among the Holy Family? Well, it seems that its function is superstitious: It is a source of luck and happiness that brings to the fertility of the earth. It is, therefore, considered a good omen for the coming year and its omission from the Nativity is believed to bring bad luck.
4. The Peruvian nativity scene
In the 16th century, Catholic conquistadors brought Christmas to Peru, and the Peruvians have made the holiday their own by incorporating existing Andean traditions into their festivities. The Peruvian nativity scene is a paradigmatic example of how traditions have merged quite spectacularly. The nativity is set up inside dried pumpkin shells, or inside “windows” and filled with a cast of characters dressed in colorful Peruvian garb, giving the impression of a multitude of people celebrating the birth of Jesus. If you look carefully, you will notice that a sheep and a llama cozy up next to Jesus instead of the usual ox and donkey.
5.Dublin’s Live Animal Nativity
Since 1995, the Dublin City Council and the Irish Farmers Association have presented a beautiful unusual tradition: The Live Animal Nativity, consisting of life-size statues and actual animals. Every year the Irish Farmers Association contributes donkeys, sheep and goats: transporting the animals to Dublin every morning and back to the farm in the evening. The nativity is set up at Mansion House, bringing a piece of the countryside to the heart of the city. Moreover, the live nativity allows children to come into contact with animals. Admission is free, but donations are accepted with proceeds going to Mansion House Fuel Fund charity. The Live Animal Nativity opens to the public on December 8 and is then open daily from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. until Christmas Eve, when it will only be open until 1:00 p.m.