The Nativity Scene
2007
The Nativity scene, also called a: crib or crèche (meaning "crib" or "manger" en Français) generally refers to any depiction of the Birth or Birthplace of Jesus. In Italy it is known as: presepe; in Spain and Spanish-speaking countries in Latin America the name goes between: belén, nacimiento or pesebre. In Poland is was known as: szopka, from Polish for "small crib", in Croatian language: jaslice and in Belarus as: batleyka, from Bethlehem. In Russian and Ukrainian culture there was a type of portable Christmas puppet theatre called: vertep.
Christian Nativity scenes, usually show Jesus in a manger, Joseph and Mary in a barn intended to accommodate farm animals. A donkey and an ox accompany them; besides the necessity of animals for a manger, this is an allusion to Isaiah: the ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib; but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider
(Is. 1:3).
The scene sometimes includes the Magi or Three Wise Men (with or without a camel), shepherds and sheep, angels, and the Star of Bethlehem. The traditional scenes that show the shepherds and Magi together are of course not true to the Bible story, since the Magi arrived much later than the shepherds, and since the New Testament Book of Matthew indicates that the Mary, Joseph and Jesus were no longer in the stable at that stage.
At Christmas time the Nativity Scene was very usual and often shown in Catholic and Protestant homes, churches and parks. These days, sadly, they are seen less and less... In 1562 the Jesuits put up a crib in Prague which is considered the first crib of the modern kind.
In Provence, in the South of France, Nativity scenes are sometimes composed of hundreds of small painted clay figurines, called santons, representing all the traditional trades and professions of old Provence. Because of their cultural value the santons are often collected as art or craft objects, regardless of their possible use in a Nativity scene.
In some places in Spain, such as Parets del Vallès, monumental indoor nativity scenes are built. They can be as big as 280 m², using more than 12,000 kg of sand, 3,000 kg of stones, 1,500 kg of cork, and more than 800 figures. Light effects, water streams, rain, music, and automatons are used to give a realistic touch to the scene.
In the town hall of The Hague there is a yearly tradition to erect a life-size nativity scene with living and breathing animals and humans: namely donkeys, oxes and camels borrowed from a nearby zoo.
This information can be interesting, but here is the real reason behind The Nativity Scene... it is much more than some kind of religious tradition we display at Christmas. It is above all, a reminder of God's Precious Gift to this world, His Son. Alléluia!
Christian-Charles de Plicque for:
Angel House International Missions Ministries Association
(c) 2007
Article also available in French and Swedish
www.deplicque.net
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