Cover story
EIGHTEENTH CENTURY NAPLES ON CENTER STAGE
by Mary Herzel
Jeffery Gueno, an interior designer and artist, was unwrapping the tissue paper around his antique Neapolitan Holy Family figures, specimens from his extraordinary private collection. He was displaying them in the wall case at the first national convention of the Friends of the Creche in Lancaster, Pennsylvania . He bent over to gaze at the glass eyes of the eighteen inch image of Mary. She had a serene, life-like expression on her exquisite terracotta face. Her azure blue silk cloak covered a cream colored silk gown. All of them, the figures and their delicate costumes, were nearly 300 years old!
Gueno explained his passion for l 8th century Neapolitan Nativity art "I guess I will always be collecting creches," he noted. He and his partner, Frank Hanley, now deceased, started with a single purchase. "We really wanted only one; it just grew ." Over thirty years, their research and purchases resulted in one of the largest collections in the United States
"We vacationed in Mexico every summer and became interested in the Nacimiento figures . That led to studying creches in other cultures, especially the Neapolitan ones."
In the 17th and 18 th centuries, Naples, Italy, was one of the cultural capitals of Europe . Ruled by the Spanish Bourbons, Naples, especially during the reign of Carlos IV (1735-1759), entered a period of extravagance in the depiction of the Christmas narrative. Elaborate creches, set up at Christmas time in the palaces of royalty, the nobility and the wealthy middle class, competed with each other for prizes and royal favor.
Alongside the traditional Holy Family, leading artists of the day created teeming scenes of contemporary village and rural life. No longer content to present the Nativity in humble surroundings, the scenes featured the Birth amidst splendid ancient Roman temple ruins, symbolic of the fall of paganism. Choirs of brilliantly clothed angels hovered overhead. Actual shepherds from the countryside near Naples served as the models for the shepherd figures. Gorgeously garbed magi and their entourages were shown on their way to find the Christ Child, accompanied by full caravans of camels, horses, and elephants. The inn where Mary and Joseph had found no room usually had as its model a typical Neapolitan hostelry with miniature vendors selling foodstuffs and general household stuffs. Peasants, working, eating, drinking, or dancing, were costumed in appropriate clothing to their time and place. Sprinkled throughout were contemporary accessories and implements of every conceivable kind.
Little remains of those original settings. "The Neapolitan creches are so exquisite, the figures so expressive that I had to design and construct background scenery for them," said Gueno "Frank Hanley and I tried to reproduce those old settings by using authentic materials with special aging techniques. Not finding enough information in English on the subject, Gueno traveled to Naples for research There he found more drawings,
archival materials, prominent private and museum collections to view, and studios to visit. "In later trips, I bought accessories in the antique shops. The figures were especially expensive in Italy, but I had already purchased many of them from collections in the United States, as well as in Naples," he noted
Gueno has an unusually extensive collection of figures that are either signed or attributed to the greatest sculptors of the period. "I want to share my collection with others. Frank and I went through a lot of trouble and expense to gather these figures and accessories," the collector explained, "and I want them to stay here in our city of Lafayette, Louisiana, and be shown here." He is planning to loan his collection to the Museum of the Cathedral Center of Saint John the Evangelist in his city, with plans that it may stay there permanently.
"I take great pleasure in seeing people's faces as they view the collection that Frank and I have put together. At the Museum, hundreds of visitors will have a chance to behold those wonderful figures in an appropriate setting," added Gueno.
Jeffery Gueno 's collection has been featured in many prominent national magazines, including Smithsonian. Shown in the cover photo is the village setting created by Gueno and Hanley for their personal presentation. The Holy Family rests in the upper center while dozens of villagers go about their daily tasks Another setting designed by the two men provides the background for the 181h century figures owned by The White House in Washington, D. C.
Dear Readers,
So far, we have received a very warm response to our trip to the Christmas markets of Germany. Others who have traveled through Currier Tours speak highly of the quality of the visit they provide. Please email or write if you are interested Trip is from December 2-10, 2002, and leaves from Newark, New Jersey, airport.
Recently, I received a wonderful batch of photographs from the Friends of the Creche convention from Vernon & Marlys Awes, Verona, Wisconsin We'll try to publish a few in a future issue.
If you have photos of the convention, or you have photos of a favorite display at your church or home, send them to Creche Herald. Closeups are best so we can see the detail. Photos can be either in color or black and white. If sending photos of a creche, be sure to put your name on back of the photo, along with a brief description of size, materials, and country of origin.
Rita Bacher, Publisher
FROM OUR READERS
At the moment, I am in my second year of a 4-year art course, but I still find time to set up a new creche every year. I am giving lectures as well about creche art and creche history and doing many creche studies.
This year, my 200 square foot creche placed first in the creche competition here on Gozo-Malta.
Victor Agius, Xaghra, Gozo, Malta *****
I just learned about an internet site that may be of interest to your readers The site warehouses, in a usable format, old retired websites, and it is free to users. It has my old original creche site there, and might well have other old creche sites. It is worth a look in the event favorite sites have disappeared. The site is: http://www.archive.org. When you get to the site, enter the url (address) in which you are interested. For example my old creche site is www.crecheandcross.com. When you get to that page just click on one of the dates shown and the site appears.
T. Sam Parrish, New York, New York *****
I have collected creches for over thirty years, making many of them myself.
Am enjoying the newsletter.
Janice Parra, Houma, Louisiana *****
My children are adopted from Sri Lanka so I have a special link with that country. I have tried to get an authentic Nativity from that island, but it is difficult in a nation of Buddhists. During my last visit there, I went to an artist who had the scene put on batik.
Jan Van Hulst, Krimpen a/dYssel, The Netherlands
BRONNER'S CHRIS Tmas WONDERLAND
dtlights In ultbrating Christ's birth tath day of tht ytar
• NOW 50% LARGER - the size of 5½ football fields!
• Private collection of over 200 creches.
• over 500 styles of Nativities from 30 nations available -miniatures to life-size.
• over 6,000 styles of glass ornaments - including Bronner·s Exclusives.
• Visit our Silent Night Chapel, replica of the original near salzburg in Oberndorf, Austria, where Silent Night was first sung on Christmas Eve in 1818.
25 Christmas Lane
Frankenmuth, Michigan 48734
989·652-9931 • 800-ALL·YEAR (,-d<d information)
Nativity on batik from Sri Lanka. Collection of Jan van Hulst.
W0M.D'S LAMD1' CHNSl'IIM ITOM
This Holy Family was made by Janice Parra from cypress tre~ knees found in the Louisiana swamps
MARKETS OF MEXICO
by James Johnston
James Johnston , Corpus Christi, Texas, is a frequent visitor to his neighbor to the south. Here he shares information on finding Nativity treasures there
MEXICO CITY
Zona Rosa. Every Saturday morning there is a great flea market in Plaza Del Angel. I usually stay at the Royal Hotel which is just a few blocks away. The Plaza del Angel is actually an upscale mall area filled with fine antique shops which frequently have antique Nativities (beautiful, but high ticket) . The open area of the mall is where the flea market is located.
Zocalo Las Fabricas de Lyon is a church goods shop located between the Bellas Artes and the Zocalo. It seems to have many traditional Nativities year-round. Exquisite craftsmanship. Simple to ornate. The address: Avenida Madero No. 82-A Centro.
Bazaar Sabado (Saturday Bazaar) is located in the San Angel District. The Bazaar is an art market situated on two squares just a block or two apart. The upper square has an old mansion on the comer that has been converted into nice shops. One has many small lead or pewter figures, including a number of Nativities. All are nicely painted. Cathedral. Behind the church are several religious goods shops with Nativity sets.
Travelers to Mexico City at Christmas should visit the Diego Rivera Museum in the San Angel district and the Palacio Iturbide on Avenida Madero Centro for their Nativity displays.
GUADALAJARA
Tlaquepaque. A beautiful, upscale shopping district of Guadalajara where you'll find on the main street a wonderful shop filled with Nativities made in Mexico.
OAXACA
Arrazola is a village about IO to 15 miles outside Oaxaca. The village is known for its brightly colored if grotesque animal looking figures, mostly made of tree roots. Here I found a beautifully colored wood Nativity (not grotesque) of 12 figures for which I paid $26 US. This also could be an area to look for Nativity crafts persons because of all the woodworking done.
Carvings International, an importer of wood carvings from around the world, specializes in olivewood items from the Holy Land. Moderate prices, excellent selection Email: iak007@aol.com. Toll free tel: 888-595-1045. Deepings Dolls. Unique, hand crafted and hand painted Nativity items from Southern Tasmania, Australia. Email: info@deepin,gsdolls.com or see examples on their web page: www .deepingsdolls.com.
CHRISTMAS POETRY EXPRESSES JOY
Fourth century Rome saw the beginning of representations of the Nativity in pictorial form. It is during that time also, that hymn writers expressed their emotions in memories of that event.
One of the earliest hymns is by Ambrose, Archbishop of Milan ( d. 3 97) who gave us a stately, if severe, Latin verse, "Veni, redemptor gentium" (Come, redeemer of the people). Other similar hymns sprang up in the next several centuries, tending toward expressing the redemption of sinful man by the mystery of the Incarnation rather than conveying a humanly tender characteristic.
Nearly all the hymns up until the 13 th century were written by monks. As such, the Nativity was an extremely important event, but it was to be celebrated as a chastened, unearthly joy. With the later Middle Ages and the Renaissance, the Nativity became an occasion for human joy, elaborately embroidered with affectionate details.
To Saint Francis of Assisi goes great credit for humanizing the Christmas carol. While not forgetting the divine side of the Nativity, he delighted in its simple humanity, the spirit that links the Incarnation to the common life of the people.
The joy of Christmas has continued to inspire bards throughout the ages. A contemporary poet expresses the wonder of the season:
Love Light by John McNamee
A ripe sun
failing from dawn to warm a winter day reddens with anger flattens breaks in a thousand windows like slack from a failing fire.
An incendiary evening ends as orange softens into amber in light-laced snow-snug houses set in trees now ink lines on rice paper.
Christmas is such a softening. Bible tales of floods and fires give way to a human scene with the warmth of a body huddle.
The Old Masters knew what they were about with the light coming off the Child.
From Clay Vessels & other poems by John McNamee (Kansas City, MO ; Sheed & Ward, 1995) Permission of the author.
???? and COMMENTS
Q. Is there any symbolic meaning to the words of the song, "Twelve Days of Christmas"?
• A. There is no definitive answer. Depending upon the source, the meanings vary . One source (A Handbook of Catholic Sacramentals by Ann Ball) states that the words were used as a catechism song so English Catholic children could remember the sacrementals of the Church; another source (The Christmas Almanac by Gerard and Patricia Del Re) calls the carol a Medieval "counting song" for teaching children. An Internet claim that the words were a secret code for Roman Catholics during a time of oppression is considered a hoax. Here are some of the meanings attributed to the words :
A partridge in a pear tree: one God
Two turtle doves: two Testaments
Three French hens: Trinity
Four colly birds four Evangelists
Five gold rings five senses or first five books
Six geese a-laying
Seven swans a-swimming
Eight maids a-milking
Nine ladies dancing
Ten lords a-leaping
Eleven pipers piping
Twelve drummers of Old Testament six days of Creation seven gifts of the Holy Spirit or seven liberal arts eight Beatitudes nine muses or nine choirs of angels ten Commandments eleven faithful Apostles twelve Jewish tribes, articles of Apostle's Creed, Apostles
The sum total of the gifts is: 12 drummers; 22 pipers; 30 lords; 36 ladies; 40 maids (presumably with cows); 42 swans; 42 geese; 40 gold rings; 36 colly birds; 30 French hens; 22 turtle doves, and 12 partridges in a dozen pear trees.
A yule log was traditionally burned during those twelve days of Christmas. To make yours festive, Kathryn Luna, Dana Point, California, suggests the following: Melt some beeswax and let it cool a bit so that the wax has thickened but can still pour. Pour wax over log, and stick on trimmings, such as cedar shavings, pine cones, acorns, nut shells, pine springs, cinnamon sticks, holly berries and other evergreens.
Creche Herald subscription information
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Enclose check or money order payable to Creche Herald. Mail to: Creche Herald, 117 Crosshill Road Wynnewood, PA 19096-3511 U.S.A.
Be sure to include name, address, telephone, e-mail.
BOOKS TO ENJOY
For those who read Spanish or for those who love photos of beautiful Nativities even if they can't understand a word, here are two books to consider. If interested, contact Creche Herald for more information Navidad en Palacio De Nazaret a Belen . by the Patrimonio Nacional (51 pages : Spain: 2000). The impetus for this slim, but splendid, book was the exhibit of Nativities and other related objects at the Royal Palace in Madrid during the Christmas season. The mainly small photos, in stunning color, include 18 th century Neapolitan figures, paintings, religious objects.
El Belenismo en Alicante by Juan Giner Pastor. (169 pages: Spain: 2000). Pastor is an historian, a prize winning Master Nativity craftsman, and is president of the Alicante (Spain) Society of Belenistas. This book includes information about the Alicante society, as well as many photos of the incredible hand crafted Nativity scenes that we have come to associate with the Spanish Belenistas.
Creche Herald
Editor/publisher: Rita B. Bocher
Contributing editor: Mary B. Herzel
Communications: Frank B Herzel
Office: 117 Crosshill Road, Wynnewood, PA 19096-3511 U.S.A.
Web page : www op.net/~bocassoc/ E-mail: crecher@op.net Creche Herald solely is responsible for content of newsletter
Australian Pioneer set, designed and painted by Jilli. Each unique Nativity set is hand turned and hand painted in Southern Tasmania, using selected white sassafras timber.
Visit our website to see examples of this and our other styles: www.deepingsdolls.com E-mail: info@deepingsdolls.com
The Deepings:1118 Nicholls Rivulet Road, Nicholls Rivulet, Tasmania 7112, Australia
FRIENDS OF THE CRECHE NOTES
Dear Friends of the Creche,
We are approaching our second anniversary, and I have to admit pride in where we are We had a very successful convention last November, and we are in the midst of plans for the next one in November 2003 in the Boston area. We have, at this writing, about 350 members.
We have three special organizational items. One, we have submitted our application for tax-exempt status to the Federal Government. I understand the process can take about a year for review. Two, our society has been accepted to membership in the International Association of Friends of the Creche headquartered in Rome, Italy. Three, we have a volunteer who will help us design a website. If all goes well, we shall have our website online before the end of the year.
In addition, we have upcoming elections for four seats on the Board of Directors, and we have news on the Annual Membership meeting October 26, 2002, in Frankenmuth, Michigan. I want to emphasize the importance of your participation in both those events. We want to hear from you, and we are anxious to meet you in person, if at all possible More detailed information is given below.
BOARD OF DIRECTOR NOMINATIONS OPEN
Friends of the Creche announces its first election for seats on the Board of Directors. Four seats of the 13-person Board are open as of Summer 2002. Any member in good standing is eligible for nomination. Per the Bylaws, a candidate for the Board must be an active member for one full year prior to the November preceding the election. This is to insure Board members with sustained interest in the organization.
The Board meets at least three times per year. There is an effort to limit face to face meetings to once or twice per year, the other meetings being by e-mail. Board members are expected to be active in official events and activities, such as serving as officers, developing projects, convention participation and encouraging membership.
Term of office: Three years starting Fall 2002. Board members are limited to two consecutive three-year terms, but may seek re-election after being off the Board for one year. New Board members will be seated at the Annual Membership meeting October 26, 2002 in Frankenmuth, Michigan.
To apply: You must submit a statement ofno more than 200 words describing your qualifications or reasons for wanting to serve. Another member may also nominate a member with the latter's consent, again by submitting a 200-word statement. E-mail or send the information to:
John Musser 5715 82 nd Street
Kenosha, WI 53142
Email: musserjd@wi.rr.com
All nominations must be received by July 31, 2002.
We shall mail eligible members a ballot about August 15, with a return no later than September 15. Election results will appear in the Winter Creche Herald.
Warm regards,
Jim Govan, President (JimGovan@aol.com)
MAKEYOURPLANSNOW COME TO THE ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
Saturday, October 26, 2002
Bavarian Inn Lodge, Frankenmuth, Michigan
Join us for our one-day membership meeting in this village which has been called Michigan's "Little Bavaria." About 3 million people annually visit this charming town and its incredible shops.
All sessions are at the Bavarian Inn Lodge ( 888- 7756343). The morning opens at 8:30 a.m. with light refreshments. That is followed by a presentation by Rev Bohdan Kosicki, an artist-priest working in wood . Several of his pieces are in churches in the Detroit area. As part of his talk, Father Kosicki will show some of the Nativities he has sculpted.
Following the presentation, we shall hold our annual membership business meeting. Your opinions and your voice are important •here. Lunch, which follows the meeting, is on your own.
Plans for the afternoon session are in development. At the end of the day, there is an optional visit to Bronner's CHRISTmas Wonderland to see the Silent Night Chapel replica and the Bronner Family Nativity collection.
For more information about the village of Frankenmuth, call 1-800-Fun Town or email: chamber@frankenmuth.org for a free brochure. Hotels in addition to the Bavarian Inn Lodge: Drury Inn (800-378- 7946); Fairfield Inn (800-2282800), Zehnder's Bavarian Haus (800-863- 7999).
Let us know you are coming by October 15. For more information about the meeting or to let us know of your attendance, contact: Michael Whalen, 19640 Driftwood Drive, Clinton Township, MI 48038. Email : nativitymichael@netscape.net.
Creche Hunting in ...Scandinavia
by Eileen Canty
Note: Prices reflect prevailing exchange rates and include value added taxes, some of which were refunded
When we announced our plans to visit Scandinavia, the warnings began: "You won't find any creches there." Loving a challenge, I was determined to prove the words untrue. After all, I already had items from Russia and Finland. Armed with responses to scores of e-mails sent to fellow collectors, churches, and tourist information sites, we started the hunt.
The Danish Art and Christmas Shop, contacted during an internet search, claimed there were no creches made in Denmark. When I arrived at our Copenhagen hotel, I discovered a shop next door, and interpreted that as a positive omen. I asked my husband to take the suitcases to the room and I ducked into the shop at Studiestraede 57.
The shop salespeople didn't know of any Danish made creches, but they did have traditional paper cuts of various Nativity scenes for $10. They gave me a leaflet for the Catholic bookshop, Steno-Butikken, Vesterbrogade 28, 1620 Kohenhoun, showing a wonderful selection of creches, none Danish, however.
Although Steno-Butikken's stock was low, I found a Nativity from the Ivory Coast for under $30 and two from Germany priced by the piece. As an example, nicely sculpted figures from one series were under $20 each.
A fortuitous chat with the hotel clerk, just one hour before our departure, led me to Sven Carlsen, a souvenir shop a few blocks away. There I bought a simple wooden Nativity-made in Denmark-for about $100.
In Oslo, Norway, a Lutheran bookshop, Bok Og Media AS, Akersgt 47, carried a small selection of creches. As luck would have it, they carried one from a local artist. Handcrafted of cardboard spools, draped fabric, and fiber hair, the creche cost $300. Pewter Nativity ornaments were available at $10 each in several places as was a set of cobalt blue crystal kings for $100.
We found two creches in Stockholm, Sweden's Old Town. The first, from Brinken Konsthantverk, Storkyrkobrinken, just across from the old cathedral, was simply carved and painted by a local artist. Priced by the piece, a complete set with interesting animals and a stable was slightly more than $100. The second, one of the Waldorf School products, was at Fidibus, Osterlanggatar 10. A selection of pieces, including a stable, ten figures, various animals and local pine trees cost $325, including shipping.
Over the years, I have dealt with Aarikka Oy, a Finnish firm that makes wooden items, including three Nativity options. At their retail store on the main boulevard in Helsinki, Finland, they carried only one Nativity, a set
made of simple wooden shapes housed in a wooden box that converts to a display case. The Holy Family, kings, and shepherds are priced separately, but the total set was close to $100.
On a day trip to Tallinn, Estonia, my search for a creche seemed a failure, but a half hour before we were to leave, a tour mate led me to Zlovia Souvenir, Nunne 1, Pikk 7. For under $300, they had an interesting sculpted creche with seven inch figures and strong ethnic faces.
At the end, I could respond to the doubters that we indeed had found creches in Scandinavia, as I knew all along we would.
Eileen Canty, Marion, Massachusetts, travels widely in search of the unique Nativity
CtCarvings International is an exclusive distributor of unique gifts. We bring you the best selection of carvings from all over the world for all occasions. Choose from a great collectible selection of:
• Collectible Nativity sets, Creches, Christmas Ornaments and Figurines
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• Crosses, Crucifixes and Rosaries
• Candleholders and Vases
• Jewelry Boxes, Brooches and Necklaces
• Statues and many more unique gifts.
A Southwestern Santero Continues a Tradition
Charlie Carrillo has been a practicing santero for over twenty-five years. His art is in permanent collections in many museums around the country, including the Smithsonian and the Denver Art Museum Research and the past history of New Mexico are important to Carrillo who received a Doctorate from the University of New Mexico in 1996. His dissertation on New Mexican pottery was published soon after. He studies the images used in Spanish Colonial Mexico and those from Spain
Carrillo's technique is that of the traditional santeros who created their works 400 years ago. He paints images on flat boards called retablos and carves threedimensional pieces called bultos. Part of the technique includes coating the flat boards or sculptures with rabbitskin glue gesso, then using natural pigments to paint the images. Lastly, the piece is finished with a protective coating of pine sap varnish and beeswax.
Carrillo discovered his love of New Mexican santos while working on an historic church excavation in New Mexico. He has visited all of the historic churches still in use and has helped catalog the old pieces for further research. To Carrillo, the most important part of being a santero is to "get the iconography right " and to pass on the tradition to others.
Charlie Carrillo's art can be viewed at Santa Fe's Spanish Market held the last weekend of July or Winter Market held the first weekend in December as well as his own gallery, Santos of New Mexico. Tel: 505- 771-4871.
GN International 98859 Olena Street Aiea, Hawaii 96701 gni@hawaii.rr.com
This stunning Nativity from Indonesia in the South Pacific is a unique hand carved set in polished wood. Comes with wood box. Figures 6"-9" tall. Available from GN International. Email: gni@hawaii.rr.com. About $99 lus s/h.
Stroll The Markets of Antwerp, Belgium
Between Christmas and January 6, the province of Antwerp, Belgium, hosts countless markets and pageants. The city itself holds a creche tour the day after Christmas For more information: Toerisme Provincie Antwerpen Koningin Elisabethlei 16, B-2018 Antwerpen, Belgium
A Christmas Blessing
By Sophie Van Vliet
May the feet of God walk with you
And his hand hold you tight.
May the eyes of God rest on you
And his ear hear you cry.
May the smile of God be for you
And his breath give you life.
May the child of God grow in you
And his love bring you home
From Christmas Nativities & Stories by Elisabeth Van Mullekom-Cserep (Nativity House Publishing, 1999)
Holy Family retablo by Charlie Carrillo.
JOSEPH'S ROLE IN MODERN NATIVITY SCENES
Has his portrayal changed?
In an unusual twist in the two Nativities below, Joseph, instead of Mary, holds the Baby.
Scene by Noemisa Batista dos Santos, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Note the two Infants and the wearing of crucifixes. Collection of Judith Davis, El Cerrito, California.
Johann G. Roten, SM, Director of the Marian Library at the University of Dayton, Ohio, explains the change:
This is indeed a contemporary rendering of the Nativity, stressing division of labor between husband and wife, and thus signaling, at least indirectly, feminine emancipation.
The classical Joseph, until the Renaissance, is one who doubts, muses or sleeps. He sits or crouches in a marginal position with regard to mother and child. This refiects his initial reaction to Mary's pregnancy which was one of doubt as described in Matthew 1, 19-21.
Beginning with the fourteenth or fifteenth centuries, Joseph plays a more active role, mainly kneeling or standing in a parallel position to Mary. There are examples of even more active involvement. In an engraving of 1504, Albrecht Durer shows Joseph pouring water from a well. The Zickelbrueder altar of Luebeck (1403-1430), commissioned by a confraternity of builders and contractors by that name, depicts the saint crouching next to the bed of mother and Child preparing soup, and actually stirring it in a pot. In other Nativities, Joseph pours water for the Baby's bath (Master of Hohenfurt, 1350). In a stained glass window in the Freiburg, Germany, cathedral, Joseph hits the ox on the snout with his cane to protect the Baby, while with the other hand he points to mother and Child.
While many similar images of Joseph as the caring father are seen in past representations, none, to my present knowledge, show him actually holding the Baby. Such a composition tends to be very modern
Nativity by Karin Howard (American). Collection of Marian Library, University of Dayton, Ohio.
2002 Advent Nativity Tour to Germany
Creche Herald invites you to a 9-day tour to Germany from December 2-10. We shall fly from Newark, NJ, airport to Frankfurt, Germany. From there, we shall transfer to the UNESCO World Heritage town of Bamberg. In Bamberg, you can unpack your bags in a charming hotel as we take day trips for all the events.
Everything is included in the $2075 price of the tour: roundtrip airfare from Newark; your hotel room; daily breakfast and evening meals; services of an interpreter and guide throughout; all entrance fees and excursions; a luxury bus and tips.
Some sights include: tour of Bamberg, "the crib city"; Marolin factory; Inge-Glas Old Christmas Factory Museum and shop; all day excursion to Nuremberg, the most famous Christmas market in Germany. Enjoy concerts, parties, receptions.
Tour limited to 24 persons.
Price after June 15: $2175.
Send $200 deposit made payable to Currier Tours. Mail to: Creche Herald, 117 Crosshill Road, Wynnewood, PA 19096-3511. Deposit fully refundable until August 1, 2002. Final payment due October I, 2002.
Note: Tour is solely a Crec/1e Herald offer in conjunction with Currie Tours and HiP'Pins Travel.
An old legend remains ever bright..
The story of the fourth wise man remains as fresh today as when it first was recounted by Henry VanDyke in 1896 It seems that this wise man, Artaban, started on his journey following the star from the East with the best of intentions He had with him a valuable gift of three precious jewels : a sapphire; a ruby, and a large pearl.
Somehow, though, Artaban missed his three friends. As he went on alone, he got sidetracked by people needing his help: the sick; the hungry; the oppressed. Not only did Artaban get sidetracked, but he sold two of his three jewels to help those he met. Time seemed always out of his control. Years went by, and he knew that he must have missed the King whom he sought.
After thirty-three years of wandering, Artaban arrived in Jerusalem, now having only the great pearl left. He noted an unusual commotion in the streets. Upon inquiring, he learned that Jesus of Nazareth, who claimed to be the Son of God and King of the Jews, was being taken to crucifixion. Instinctively, Artaban knew that was the King for whom he had journeyed . He wanted to rush to the scene with his last gift to see ifhe could help, but again he was sidetracked. He saw a young girl being sold into slavery, and his heart was moved. The wise man gave up his last gift-the great pearl--to ransom her.
At that point, darkness fell over the city, and the earth shook. Artaban, heartbroken, fell beneath tumbling stones. As he fell, he heard a voice, "You have been a good and faithful servant. I was hungry and you fed me. I was naked and you clothed me. I was in prison and you visited me." Artaban asked when he had done that. The voice answered, "Whenever you helped one of my people in need, you helped me." Artaban's heart grew calm, his soul peaceful. His journey was over. At last, he had found his King.
Contests in Mexico Combine Old and New
In Mexico, art and handicrafts continue traditions. It is not unusual in November and December, in cities large and small, to have competitions for the creation of the Nativity scene, known there as Nacimientos.
In Mexico City , the capital city, the Secretary of Development of Las Artesanias conducts a national competition of Nacimientos Artesanales to encourage a continuation of the old arts and handicrafts. Certificates and money prizes are awarded at the ceremonies .
One of the most colorful presentations is in Puerto Vallarta, a Pacific Coast resort. There, the ceremony is held at an open air theater by the sea. Prior to the issuance of the prizes, the spectators are treated to a performance of Las pastorelas.
The story of Las pastorelas tells about the shepherds of Bethlehem--/os pastores-who have heard the angels announce the birth of Jesus On the way to the manger, the shepherds encounter evil demons. These evil demons, who represent sins, try to hinder the shepherds from their mission . However, the angels protect the shepherds, and the men arrive safely at the stable to see the Holy Infant.
Each town has its own variation on the story, and not surprisingly, the story might get modified a little with each retelling. Over the years, the demons have become comical, or satirical, or even representations of contemporary social or economic ills. In all the versions , however, good triumphs over evil.
The story continues some of the traditions of the PreColumbian indigenous population which the Christian missionaries incorporated to help the people understand the new teachings . It is this colorful merging of cultures which lends uniqueness to the Mexican celebration of the birth of Jesus.
The Belen1stas of Alicante, Spain, construct an entire cityscape of Bethlehem in this scene From El Belenismo en Alicante by Juan Giner Pastor.
NATIVITY SUPPORTS A HOSPITAL
by Mary Herzel
It was late January in Antigua Guatemala, an old city in Guatemala. Once the bustling and proud capital of a major jurisdiction of the Viceroyalty of New Spain, Antigua, as it is commonly known, is today a tranquil urban oasis, more town than city. In 1979, UNESCO declared Antigua a World Heritage Site. Although repeated earthquakes have left its many monuments in ruins, thousands of foreigners still flock there during the Western Hemisphere's most impressive Semana Santa (Holy Week) observances. With no traffic lights along its cobblestoned streets, just "Halt" signs, pedestrians always have the right of way. It was there we had gone for a relaxing month of studying Spanish while escaping the winter weather up north.
"You must visit the most famous Nativity in our city," said my Spanish teacher. "It's at the Hermano Pedro Hospital garden. I stood in line an hour to see it."
Year after year, the annual Nativity display from mid December until February 2, the feast day of the Virgin of the Candelaria, attracts thousands of visitors. The theme of the display changes annually, never to be repeated. So I trudged down the narrow pavement along the cobbled streets. In front of me in the near distance, an awesome volcano dwarfed the town. After a few blocks, I arrived at a small park. There, local women sat on the ground, weaving brilliantly colored textiles on hand looms or selling them.
In a comer across from the park stood an old church. It was attached to the faded white hospital partly destroyed by a major earthquake in 1976. Above the hospital, an inscription read, Sede de Las Obras Socia/es de Hermano Pedro (Headquarters of the Social Works of Brother Peter). The Nativity was in a garden in the rear.
Upon entering the garden, I found myself transported to the Biblical Middle East where the life of Jesus was portrayed from his birth to his crucifixion. The focal point of the display was a large gray cave with Joseph holding the Infant Jesus and Mary gazing on. I couldn't help but reflect that the role of Joseph as an active figure in the Nativity was quite different from other displays I had seen. Those others had shown more traditional roles for Mary and Joseph; she had held the Baby and Joseph had looked on. Surrounding the Nativity scene were cameos depicting the subsequent life of Jesus.
The garden/Nativity display, in an open courtyard about 20 by 24 feet, was a stunning floral vision. Orchids crept on an orange tree; red roses bloomed flamboyantly; small coconut plants grew near scarlet amaryllis, while green fems, white hydrangea, geraniums of many hues, and small artificial palm trees intermixed . Red, orange and violet bougainvilleas trailed along the side wall.
Preparations for the Nativity scene begin in October. Artists create Biblical figures of ceramic and wood. Hundreds of workers, including the physically and mentally disadvantaged patients of the hospital, create small colorful buildings and settings for the presentation. "It's therapy for our patients," said Brother Giuseppe Contran, director of the hospital.
At the hospital office, Brother Giuseppe, dressed in the brown Franciscan robe, was writing thank you notes to the benefactors. "Christmas is a time of love and a time to care for the needy," he explained. "Through the generations, we continue the spirit. Here, during the 17th century, Brother Pedro de San Jose de Betancourt, a native of the Canary Islands, Spain, worked among the local people. He provided a hospice for the sick and needy, while he promoted the tradition of the Nativity."
"The Nativity exhibit is important to us," said Joseph Lucciolo, a volunteer who comes here to work every six weeks from the United States. "It not only helps support the institutions with contributions, but gives spiritual support to the many who live here or come for help. The Nativity is the heart and soul of this institution."
Blessed Hermano Pedro soon will be canonized as the first saint of Central America. Anyone wishing to help the hospice he founded centuries ago, can send contributions to: Hermano Pedro Social Works Foundation, PO Box 32, McLean, VA 22101, USA.
The Holy Family is the focus of the popular garden Nativity at the Hermano Pedro Hospital , Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala.
VA TI CAN NATIVITY REPLICA INSPIRES AN AMERICAN CITY
The Christian Leaders Fellowship of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, each year oversees the display of the only replica of the Vatican ' s own Nativity scene . "The Pittsburgh Creche was created to help people understand the true meaning of Christmas," stated Father Ronald P Lengwin , Secretary for Pastoral Life in the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh, and the project's director. " The greatest satisfaction comes from watching parents and grandparents tell or review the Christmas story with the children as they look at the display " Last year, nearly 300,000 persons viewed the scene.
Comprised of the Western Pennsylvania heads of the United Methodist Church, Salvation Army, Episcopal Diocese, Greek Orthodox Diocese, Evangelical Lutheran, the Presbyterian Church, Byzantine Archdiocese , AME Zion Church, the Baptist Association, the United Church of Christ and the Roman Catholic Diocese, the Fellowship is a group that meets regularly to study scripture, discuss matters of mutual interest, and pray for the community.
This was the first time the Vatican approved reproduction of its larger than life creche erected each year in Saint Peter's Square in Vatican City . Pittsburgh received permission to reproduce the creche on the condition that it be duplicated exactly. The original figures , carved by Pietro Simonelli of Italy, were reproduced by the sculptor for the Pittsburgh display
Efforts to copy the Vatican creche grew out of professional ties between the Vatican and Pittsburgh architect, Louis Astorino. Astorino's firm had worked on the Domus Sanctae Martha, a new Vatican City residence for visiting clergy, and had designed the facility's adjacent chapel. Astorino subsequently gained permission to recreate the Vatican creche from the Vatican director of technical services.
The dimensions of the creche are impressive: 64 feet wide ; 42 feet high and 36 feet deep. It weighs 66,000 pounds. Changing , computerized lighting helps create a feeling of movement among the figures The figures are of clay covered with papier mache , then painted and waterproofed . In keeping with the Vatican tradition, the clothes for the figures are sewn by members ofreligious communities. The design of the stable was taken from the Vatican blueprints
This current display was not the first effort made in Pittsburgh to present a creche in public. Until 1989, a Nativity had been on display at the County Courthouse , but opponents argued successfully that public property was not the proper place for a religious symbol. Then from 1996 to 1998 , a creche placed in another area turned out to be on city property Finally, permission was obtained from the USX Corporation to place the creche in the plaza in front of the corporate headquarters.
In addition to religious support , about thirty business and labor groups have contributed to the project. Most of the labor and materials for the erection of the presentation have been donated.
Lighting of the creche this year takes place November 22; the creche stays on display until January 6, 2003.
