Nativity scenes of the world, Eastern Europe

Grignan from November 10, 2023 to February 17, 2024

The tradition of the nativity scene dates back to Saint Francis of Assisi who was the first to celebrate mass on Christmas night 1223 in the village of Greccio in Italy, around a manger with live characters and animals.

The custom of staging the nativity then developed in Europe and throughout the world. An extension that was long attributed to the Franciscan friars before giving the credit to the Jesuits. Because it must be said that crèches have toured the Christian world. Whether from Italy, Spain or various countries in Europe, Korea or South America and Africa, the nativity scenes of the world are splendid. Our country remains very attached to the tradition of the crèche and in particular to the Provençal crèche which has gradually become established.

The Holy Family, the wise men and the characters who accompany them carry within them a happy event. Whatever the material that it is made of, the nativity scene changes in appearance, clothing, colors, adapting to the traditions and customs of the countries. But we find this custom in most countries, even if those with a strong Catholic tradition are the most faithful to recreating the settings and characters of the birth of the child Jesus

From the Irish wool nativity scene, to the bronze nativity scene from Burkina Faso, from the Puglia nativity scene in Italy to the wooden nativity scene from Rwanda, Congo or Germany, from the paper nativity scenes from Spain to the nativity scene Neapolitan, all illustrate the same faith. In Peru, the crèche is a balanced mix of religion and daily life. The figurines are often made with potato starch, hence their fragility. Austria and the German-speaking countries favor wood, while the nativity scenes of Madagascar are often made of rosewood, those of Mexico in ceramic or terracotta and those of Africa in ebony, bronze, and products
recovery.

So many countries, so many different traditions of shaping your figurines and the characters A work that remains traditional and artisanal.

All these nativity scenes are placed in the Provençal Miniature Village within the santon exhibition, thus creating a special atmosphere and allowing you to discover a nativity scene from another place at the corner of a house and a street.