“Il presepe” ~ an Italian Christmas tradition!
This month, we’re embracing all things Christmas with a festive Assaggio Christmas Menu that will have you and your clan enjoying and laughing all the way! (If you missed out, you can sign up to our Assaggio emails here: http://eepurl.com/h-82m5)
Now, let’s dive in to the unique and beautiful tradition of “il presepe” ~ the nativity scene. You may have heard of it but did you know how it all started?
*Translated from ArtePresepe.it*
The representation of the nativity of Jesus Christ is an ancient practice, which began with simple stylized drawings and then evolved, over the centuries, to a true artistic expression, combining the imagination of painters and sculptors who contributed significantly to its conquering a place in the spotlight of churches, museums and living rooms.
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The origin of the nativity scene
The first historical evidence of the nativity scene dates back to the 3rd-4th century, when Christians depicted images of Mary with little Jesus on her lap.
From the fifteenth century and throughout the Middle Ages, examples of nativity scenes…were exhibited in churches to show the illiterate population the scenes of the life of Jesus.
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The first nativity scene in the modern sense of the term, however, is commonly traced back to the one staged by Saint Francis of Assisi during Christmas day in 1223. In 1220 Saint Francis had made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land (Palestine) to visit the places of the birth of Jesus Christ, and was so impressed by Bethlehem that, upon returning to Italy, he asked Pope Honorius III to be allowed to leave the convent to stage the nativity play.
The first nativity scene in history was set up near the woods near the town, in a cave. Francis took the manger with the straw into a cave and led the ox and the donkey there (the Virgin Mary, Joseph and the little child were not there). The population came in large numbers and so the saint was able to narrate the story of the birth of Jesus to all those present, who could not read.
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It was the greatness of Saint Francis and the interest in his deeds that lead to the diffusion of the nativity scene. Following his example, the first representations of the nativity complete with scenography and sculpted figurines appeared in churches, alongside paintings dealing with the same subject. The nativity scene became a popular tradition that spread widely throughout central Italy and the Emilia region. During the 15th century the nativity scene reached the city of Naples and in the following decades…it also gained a place in noble houses, under in the form of an ornament or miniature chapel.
The eighteenth century was the most flourishing period for the nativity scene, which by then had reached much of Italy and was already expressed in different popular traditions.
Nativity scene art spread to the homes of the most illustrious families in the cities. Particularly in Naples, the nativity scene reached original and highly sought-after levels of expression, becoming a source of pride for families who competed to have the most lavish nativity scene.
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Today, thanks to technology, the traditional nativity scene has been enriched with new features (lights, streams of flowing water, etc) and above all with new materials. In fact, although there are still many nativity scenes that are made with traditional materials (terracotta, wood, plaster and papier-mâché), many of those available in shops are made of plastic, which is cheaper and more durable over time. Nativity scenes are also found outdoors, displayed in the squares of many cities in Italy and beyond, where they become an integral part of the Christmas decorations of the town centre.
SOURCE: https://artepresepe.it/storia-presepe/
Have a look at a very impressive example from an Italian mamma who hand crafted an incredible scene to display in their family home…
You can find some more examples here:
https://www.myriamartesacrastore.it/blog/10-presepi-piu-belli-italia.html
