Someone prefers to buy a nativity scene at Christmas markets or in a store, ready, and someone prefers to make with his own hands, at home. Carved from wood or cardboard figures of the main characters of the Christmas Story, painted in bright colors symbolizing the Bright Holiday, cannot but please the eyes of both adults and children, regardless of religion. What is a nativity scene? What is its history in Russia and in other countries? Let's try to tell in this article.
Christmas nativity scene in Europe
In Christian Europe, to this day, there is a good old tradition of believers - to establish a nativity scene in their homes as a metaphorical reminder of events that took place more than two thousand years ago. Christ was born! Glorify him!
In Russia
What is a nativity scene in Russia? Here, such a practice existed everywhere before the revolutionary revolution of the Bolsheviks, which overthrew the great country into anti-religious chaos and obscurantism. In 1917, when anti-Christian propaganda began, and until the 80s of the 20th century, the worship of religious ceremonies (and the celebration of the Nativity of Christ was considered one of the main) became practically impossible, at least legally or publicly.
Rebirth
In the last few decades, the celebration of Christmas in general and the den tradition in particular have been reborn. Christmas nativity scene is very popular, and not among faithful Christians. All because he is a global symbol, not only religious-metaphysical, but also social and existential. Its versatility played a large role in world popularity.
Some more history
The literal translation of the word from Old Slavonic is a cave. This word is called the place where Christ appeared as a born man. Christmas Cave is located in Bethlehem. Moreover, the birthplace of the Savior is marked with a commemorative inscription and a star. A little far away - the limit of the nursery where the Blessed Virgin put the baby. The niche where the day nurseries exported to Rome were located before is lined with marble. This one and only nativity scene became the prototype of all existing subsequent ones. This is what a nativity scene is in the original sense of the word.
The Bible for the Illiterate
Over time, craftsmen began to make nativity scenes from papier-mâché, wood, gypsum, clay, porcelain. As a rule, uncomplicated, but refined, they spread throughout the countries of the Christian world as the most significant symbol of Christmas. Reproducing scenes from the Testament, they played a huge educational role among the illiterate peasants. And then in other sections of society. And in Italy (already in the 13th century), living nativity scenes began to appear, the roles of characters there were played by ordinary people. Such a nativity scene is still popular in Catholic countries, and in the territory of the former USSR in Western Ukraine.
Den device
What is a nativity scene? Actually, it is a big box (sometimes - in human height and above). Portable, made of plywood, thin boards or thick cardboard. And the nativity scene is multi-tiered. Usually two to three. To better understand what a nativity scene is, consider a two-tier structure. The upper tier is called the sky, or cave. Christ was born there. The interior of the upper tier is blue paper, usually with asterisks cut out of shiny foil. The back wall depicted Christmas scenes. There are also dolls of characters from the Holy Family - the Virgin, Joseph, Jesus. Various scenes were played: the good news of the Angels, the worship of the Magi and the shepherds, flight to Egypt.
Interestingly, in the Ukrainian and Belarusian Orthodox traditions, no movements and manipulations with dolls depicting the Holy Family were allowed. Only figures of animals, shepherds, magicians could move. And in the name of the Lord the Angels spoke.
The lower tier of the den was called land, or the palace. The palace of Herod was depicted. Here, the scenery was simply pasted over with pictures or pictures were drawn. Figures, as a rule, were absent.
Sometimes the figures were large, and the structure was stationary. Here is such a wooden nativity scene (photo below).
The front side of the box, turned to the audience, was covered with a shutter or bright color cloth. Special cuts were made in the floor of the tier so that the dolls could move around on special rods. So that the slots were not so noticeable, the floor was sheathed in fur. At the top, lamps were sometimes attached to illuminate the scene in the evening (formerly oil or kerosene, nowadays on batteries or batteries).
Dolls were made quite simply: carved from plywood, wood, molded from clay or papier-mâché. Usually the height of the dolls was up to twenty centimeters and above - otherwise they would not have been noticeably from afar. Now you know how to make a nativity scene with your own hands: variations on a theme can be different if you want to make it for Christmas holidays and please with scenes of your children and acquaintances.