THE SPECTACULAR CHRISTMAS CRIBS FROM CRACOW, POLAND
Medieval liturgical plays, early puppet shows depicting the Nativity drama, multi-figure Nativity scenes in churches introduced by the Franciscan monks in the 13 th century--all contributed to the development of the contemporary Polish szopka (shop-kah).
Nativity display traditions in Poland sprang from two forms : the first was a stationary scene centered on a small wooden crib called Betlejka or Betlejemka (Bethlehem) ; the second was a puppet crib, which in addition to the stationary scene , also included a stage for puppet performances . Over time , the puppet performances of the Birth of Jesus, or jaselka, were embellished with secular plots of satire and comic relief. These non-religious episodes , performed sometimes by puppets , sometimes by young actors, eventually became so rowdy that in 1736, Bishop Teodor Czartoryski , Bishop of Poznan, banned the moveable scenes, permitting only displays connected with the Mystery of the Nativity .
Szopka literally means " little shed, " but it has come to refer to the slender, multitiered , richly decorated Nativity creations originally crafted. The design of the Cracovian szopka is based upon the actual historic medieval , renaissance and baroque architecture of that city, although the final results often are more fanciful than actual. Among the most popular buildings depicted are Saint Mary's Church on the main square of Cracow and Wawel Castle . In addition to the Holy Family, usually found in the middle tier, the construction might include contemporary, legendary, or historical personages , or other local characters.
The Cracow szopka is shallow in depth, with an elaborate facade and an unadorned back. Size can vary from a few inches high to as tall as nine feet. It is made of found materials, such as cardboard, sequins , beads, and brightly colored foil.
During the mid 19 th century, the building of the szopka became the primary domain of the guild comprised of bricklayers, carpenters , and builders' assistants who earned extra money during the slow winter months. The tradesmen and young boys then carried the szopka from house to house singing Christmas carols .
After World War I, this special Polish tradition seemed to be dying as szopki became less elaborate and smaller. In 1937 , the City authorities of Cracow decided to save the tradition by announcing a competition for the most beautiful Cracow crib . More than 86 cribs entered, encouraging the authorities to make the competition an annual event. A hiatus occurred during World War II in the period 19391944.
Since the 1970s, the competition has been conducted during the first Thursday of December in the Main Market Square at the foot of the monument to the Polish poet, Adam
Mickiewicz. Criteria for winning are faithfulness to tradition , architecture , color range, figurines, mechanization , and the actual Nativity decor. The cribs, about two-thirds of which are by children, are put in place early in the morning They remain on view until a bugle call at noon signifies a colorful parade around the Square and the beginning of the judging.
An exhibition of szopki at the Historical Museum lasts until mid-February
Sources: Anna Szalapak, Szopki krakowskie. Cracovian Christmas Cribs, BOSZ Publishing House Matthew P o well, The Christmas Creche: Treasure of Faith , Art & Theater Sue Myal, Tucson , Arizona, also contributed to this article
On the cover is the first place prize winner by Marian Dluzniewski in the 1999 City of Cracow competition. Dimension s : 64cm high ; 40cm wide ; 22cm deep The construction is of colored metallic f o il, co lored tinfoil, wooden strips and cardb o ard. Dluzniewski, a retired fitter , has won many prizes for his cre ations On the first level, Pope John Paul II sits on a throne with clergy on either side The Holy Family is on the middle tier while trumpeters on the third level sound the news on either side of a multicolored star Topping the szopka is the Polish eagle
The szopka comes.from the collection of the Historical Museum of the City ofCracow, The Krzysztofory Palace , Rynek GI. 35, 31011 Cracow. Email: dyrekcja @mhk.pl. The photograph is from th e album, Szopki krakowskie , Cracovian Christmas Cribs by BOS Z Publishing House, Poland, a publisher of fine art bo o ks of Poland 's cultural heritage Used with permission.
Dear Readers ,
As of this writing, we still are receiving Creche Herald Reader Surveys, and we thank you for the time you took to answer our questions. Hopefully , those of you who might have forgotten will take a few minutes to either mail in the survey or send your responses by e-mail.
We are presenting the first announcement of the 2005 Friends of the Creche national convention in Santa Fe New Mexico. Those fortunate enough to have attended pr;vious conventions will know not to miss this one Think about scheduling your vacation to include this event in one of the most fascinating regions of the United States
An exciting new project is being considered by Friends of the Creche--a Christmas Celebration Cookbook. The cookbook would feature recipes for entertaining from various countries and cultures. To make the cookbook a reality, we need your help We need your recipes , and we need volunteers who will help us test the recipes. If your recipe is accepted, or you act as a recipe tester , your name will go in the book. You do not have to be a member of Friends of the Creche to participate . Remember, we need you to make the cookbook happen See details on the next page . Looking forward to hearing from you, Rita B Bacher , Publisher
Friends of the Creche is considering a Christmas Celebration Cookbook and wants your recipes . The cookbook will feature recipes for entertaining from around the world. We are looking for canapes, finger foods, cookies , cakes, special dishes that feed a crowd, a family , or a few special friends Also send us recipes for special holiday beverages
As now planned, the book will include photos of creches from around the world, brief notes on Christmas customs in those countries or cultures , and regional , easy-to -make recipes for entertaining
Each recipe will be tested before printing so we also are looking for volunteers to test recipes Volunteers would be given the recipe to test, but would have to purchase their own ingredients. Even if you do not submit a recipe, you still can be a recipe tester If one of your recipes is used, or you are a tester, your name will be listed in the cookbook.
USE ONE PAGE PER RECIPE. At the top of each recipe, indicate the name of the country or culture from which it comes . Indicate the number of persons the recipe will feed. Note whether the recipe can be prepared ahead or frozen Remember pan sizes, cooking temperatures, length of cooking time Give EXACT amounts or sizes Use TBS for tablespoon , tsp for teaspoon Print your name , address , email address, and telephone number on each recipe. PLEASE PRINT CLEARLY.
Send recipes or submit your name as a tester no later than December 31, 2004 to: Rita Bacher, 117 Crosshill Road , Wynnewood, PA 190963511, USA Tel: 610-649-7520. E-mail : crecher@op.net.
Where Customers are FriendsAnd Creches are One-of-a-Kind
6LOBAL GIFTS
At Global Gifts, San Pedro, California, the volunteer staff has an old fashioned commitment to knowing customers personally. With an always-changing inventory of unique international folk art, Global Gifts also maintains an old-fashioned attention to detail.
A nonprofit shop with small-town charm but international connections, Global Gifts holds an annual Nativity Show every Fall which attracts hundreds of collectors The shop has become a hub for creche enthusiasts from all over California and beyond.
This year, we have new contacts with artisans in Madagascar, Kazakhstan , Chile , Argentina, and Mexico among the Tarahumara New Italian , African, and Huichol creches are also in process.
Global Gifts funds children's aid projects around the world, and acquires handmade Nativities through cottage industries, artisans' families, fair-trade groups, and community-based programs. In this way, relationships between artisans and customers yield not only unique creches, but foster real change for the better in needy communities worldwide.
Global Gifts
531 West 7th Street, San Pedro, California, 310-548-1762
www.bosz.com.pl office @bosz.com.pl
This and other albums are available here :
www.polbook.com
Szopki Krakowskie, Cracovian Christmas Cribs
This Album shows works by the Cracovian Christmas cribmak ers from the postwar history of the Christmas Crib Competition. An essay by the distinguished chanteuse and ethnographer Anna Sz alapak introduces th e read er to th e Cracovian Christmas cribs, while th e prefac e by Cardinal Francis ze k Macharski underlines th e contribution this tradition h as made to Polish culture.
The Agony and Ecstasy of Creche Collecting
by Mary Herzel
" My sister, Elizabeth Ann Evans, traveling with our mother from Pennsylvania, would first visit me at my home in Yorkshire , England, and then we would go to Italy again-to Rome, Venice, Florence, or Milan, and always ending up in Naples, the home of the Nativity for many centuries," said Suzanne Evans Hoyle-Rhodes.
Suzanne remembers her sister Liz's passion for creches, her travels to Italy collecting creche figures from Naples for nearly thirty years. "Each visit Liz made to Italy she would say would definitely be her last. Then a year later, the urge to 'just look' would become too much," said Suzanne.
" Does a collector ever really call it quits?"
Elizabeth's creche collection began after she had seen the Angel Tree collection at the Metropolitan Museum in New York City, and had read about artisans of creches in Naples. Her work as a home fashions coordinator for a large Philadelphia department store took her to many buying trips to Europe. "But each trip would end in Italy, where she would eventually make her way to Naples."
Beginning with angels and cherubs, Elizabeth soon progressed to the Holy Family and other basic Nativity personages. Later, she included ordinary animals-donkeys, cows, sheep, which , in turn, led to more exotic ones-camels, lions, monkeys, peacocks, and a huge elephant from Venice. All of that , naturally, required the addition of more figures-elephant attendants, Nubian slaves, noblemen, a bejeweled noble lady carried by porters, and a marching Neapolitan band. To show the 18 th century village, she added huntsmen, shepherds, peddlers, peasants, and a complete street scene of fishmongers, butchers, and bakers.
Traditionally, Neapolitan creche figures included all forms of everyday life, including the grotesque, particularly characters afflicted with leprosy, goiters, or just simple minded souls, and even beggars and pick pocket criminals. "Her many visits to the Museo San Martino, on the hills overlooking Naples, helped her get the characters, scenery, and staging just right," explained Suzanne.
Shipping these pieces to the United States was an undertaking. As Elizabeth spoke very little Italian, it was sometimes difficult to convey all but the most simple instructions. "At the baggage carousel of the Philadelphia airport, she was horrified to see the arrival of the longawaited terracotta elephant tumble down from the top to the bottom of the rotating luggage belt. She heard the rattling of dozens of little pieces inside a "carefully" packed crate, which , upon opening, proved to be stuffed with no more than a bit of straw. "Thankfully," said Suzanne, "Mother was an art restorer and recreated the fragmented elephant.
On the death of Elizabeth in 2001, at the age ofonly 49 years, Suzanne approached the Philadelphia Museum of Art fulfilling her sister's request. The scene is now at the Fleisher Art Memorial administered by the Museum.
Flora Jacobson, director of the Fleisher, is working with Suzanne on a progressive display. In June, at the Italian Food Festival of the neighborhood, the street scenes and market ofth,e presepio were on display In late autumn, the Nativity will be added, soon to be followed by the Magi.
Mary Herzel writes from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Creche Herald
Editor/publisher: Rita B. Bocher
Contributing editor: Mary B. Herzel
Communications: Frank B. Herzel
117 Crosshill Road, Wynnewood, PA 19096-3511 U.S.A.
Web page: www.op.net/-bocassoc/ E-mail: crecher@op.net
Printed by Saint Joseph's University Press, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Figures from the collection of Elizabeth Ann Evans, now at the Samuel Fleischer Art Memorial, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
We ' re looking foiward to our membership meeting in Pomona , California , on October 30 Like our successful meeting in Frankenmuth , Michigan, two years ago , this gathering is a one-day affair, but the program promises to be educational and enjoyable . I hope you consider attending , and also taking the time to visit the attractions of sunny Southern California
As you will read elsewhere, we are again inviting members to become active in our society. As I often stress , this is your society, so we would like you to help us m~e it as good as it can be for all of us . The Board gives considerable time to the organization, but we cannot do all we would like to do , so assistance is welcome. We are calling for volunteers for two activities One is for service on our newly created information center, the Creche Resource and Information Board (CRIB). The center will provide service to people who seek information about creches. The center, or Board as we call it , is part of our effort to provide a public , educational service We need a few folks , including those with specialized knowledge about specific creche traditions , to serve as research and resource people The other call is for volunteers to help _with preparations and operations for the 2005 nat10n~l convention Those of you who attended the Hyanms convention can understand how much work went into the event. To help with the information center, contact the chair , Eileen Canty (emcanty@aol.com or 508-748-1973) To help with the convention, contact co-host Judy Davis (judydavisl2 @comcast.net or 510-237-4885)
The Board of Directors convened for one of its three annual meetings in May at The Marian Library of the University of Dayton, Ohio . Father Johann Roten , ~irector of the Library and a Board member, hosted the meetmg We made considerable progress toward our goal of creating a permanent website . Our goal is to be online by t~is Fall-:-at last. We discussed the plans for the 2005 convention which will be titled Land ofEn chanting Nativities We adopted a slightly revised version of our official logo-now ~ith a black oval center rather than white The new vers10n appears above We will continue to use color versions , most notably the wonderful banner created for FOTC by Mrs. Catherine Rehfeldt, Des Moines, Iowa . The Board also discussed more active outreach to members , especially those unable to attend our gatherings . We adopted a bylaws amendment , pending your approval , as you know from the ballot you received, and discussed a possible new project-a cookbook (See the separate notice on page 3) .
As you read these Notes in September, many ofus will be off to Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic , to attend the quadrennial international congress of creche societies Shortly after returning , we ' ll be off to Pomona where I hope to see many of you. Mark your calendars! ! Pom~na, California, October 30 , 2004 . Santa Fe, New Mexico , November 9-11 , 2005.
Jim Govan, President (JimGovan@ aol.com)
ANNUAL MEETING AT HISTORIC SITE
Saturday, October 30, 2004; 9 a.m.-4:15 p.m. Cal Poly University Campus Pomona, California
The site of this year ' s meeting was once a gathering place for some ofHollywood ' s greatest celebrities, including Rudolph Valentino , Clara Bow, and Gary Cooper Originally a ranch owned by cereal magnate, W K. Kellogg , the land was donated to the State of California in 193 2 with the stipulation that the property be used for educational purposes , and that Kellogg ' s Arabian horses continue to be bred and shown.
Keynote speaker at Saturday ' s meeting is well-known folklorist, author , and arts activist , Doctor Mary MacGregorVillarreal. She will speak on the history of nacimi entos in Mexican homes in the Los Angeles area. Two other featured presenters are southern California collectors, Louise Polsky and Joanne Stevens. There will be an exhibit of special Nativities by local collectors, as well as the annual meeting of members of Friends of the Creche A freshly made barbecue lunch will be served accompanied by live music.
Registration : $25/person. Payable to FOTC Mail to : Julia Colflesh, 523 Springfield Avenue , Folsom, PA 19033 .
Pomona is about 30 miles east of Los Angeles. The Shilo Inn Hotel , 3200 Temple Avenue , Pomona, is offering a special meeting rate of $72 per night. Includes free shuttle from/to Ontario International Airport, and to/from the Cal Poly University Campus , as well as complimentary breakfast buffet. Rate is guaranteed until October 16th Call 909-5987666 .Identify yourself as a member of Friends of the Creche. Further information : judydavisl2@comcast.net or 510-237-4885
CRIB
Are you willing to share your knowledge of some aspect of the Christmas Nativity? Friends of the Creche is forming CRIB , the Creche Resource and Information Board , to help answer questions that come in from members and the public Two to three volunteers are needed for the committee , and many other ad hoc experts in areas such as pre-1950 sets , folk art , Neapolitan , Spanish Colonial , traditions , legends , etc . If you are willing to look at pictures , answer questions , and/or give your opinion, please contact Eileen Canty, 345 Point Road, Marion , MA 02738 , 508-748-1973 , emcanty@, aol.com. No one will be overburdened .
FROM OUR READERS
In the Winter 2003/2004 Creche Herald, there was an article about the Santo Bambino of Aracoeli (Rome, Italy). Unfortunately, the famous resident no longer occupies the chapel. He is missing in action . A copy of the image, however, is kept safely locked in the sacristy. The chapel is empty because in 1994, the original figure was abducted and held for ransom by the Mafia! The Franciscan Friars who staff the church refused to pay the ransom, and the original statue was never returned. If it is still extant, perhaps some day the original Holy Child of Aracoeli will surface and be restored to its place of honor.
Tim Goldrick, Assonet, Massachusetts *****
I have my collection on the following website: www.rivierachurch.org (look under photos). The site belongs to my church, the Riviera Presbyterian Church in Miami, Florida. Although it is a church site, all the creches, except three, are mine.
Karen Miller, Miami, Florida *****
I am a retired kindergarten teacher and have collected Nativities for many years. When I was in college and later married with three boys, I couldn't afford Nativities, so I collected Nativity Christmas cards. I now have over 2000.
In the photo (below) is our clothespin Nativity bought at a garage sale. The owner said her mother, now deceased, had made the figures while ill. All the town folk are dressed, along with two soldiers, bride and groom, donkey, deer, and Holy Family. It is one of my special ones.
Mrs. David Amstutz, Wooster, Ohio
German Church Selects A Contemporary Crib by
Jochen Streiter
The crib of the Protestant Lichtenplatz Chapel in Wuppertal, Germany, is a provocative work of art that has generated many parish discussions about belief and art.
In 1999, the members of the Presbytery decided to procure a new crib for their chapel. They wished to display the mystery of the Nativity in a contemporary style, and selected a young sculptor, Cyrus Overbeck. Financed with parish donations, the crib was dedicated that December.
The three sculptures are made of oak. Mary is shown in a squatting position. The rather heavy sculpture is 70cm high, 40cm wide and 40cm deep, symbolizing a woman in labor and in grief. She anticipates an uncertain future.
The upright figure shows Joseph as the protecting father. His large hands clasp the famous staff. The dimensions of the sculpture are 70cm high, 20cm wide and 35cm deep.
Jesus, lying in a manger, is the smallest of the three sculptures. The block is 20cm high, 40cm wide, and with a depth of only 15 cm. The Infant's body is depicted in an impression of crib and cross, with the human form lying on a wooden block and becoming one with it. The torso, with vaguely indicated arms, seems covered with a gown. There are strange but vexing cuts along one side-are they the skeleton or injuries done to a human being?
Overbeck's work of art forces us to meditate upon Christmas. He challenges our obsession with harmony and our idea of a safe and sound world. He conveys to us God's incarnation in a context of sorrow and of hope.
Reverend Jochen Streiter is pastor of the Lichtenplatzer Kapelle, Wuppertal, Germany. His article was translated by Helga Feth, also of Wuppertal.
Clothespin Nativity. Collection ofMrs. David Amstutz
Nativity sculpture by Cyrus Overbeck in Lichtenp/atz Chapel, Wuppertal, Germany
New -b r Surnrre:t2004
?-'li.isicalNativitlj. C~--69S, tt900
Enohanting 1 piece nativity withwtse:men and sto:tage l~use. Jfand-ca:tved and painted by master crafl:srnan. Jnti.rcate detail and beatttf.ful mttsfc bring to life the $J>l:tlt of the season.
Contact us for information on our wide variety of hand-crafted items from Russia and South East Asia, Call toll...free 800-639-4309 or e-mail vrtc@vo Igarivertrading.cotn
Volga River Trading Compang 191 &nk Street 2nd Flr., Btlrlington, VT OS401
BUILD FAMILY TRADITIONS WITH FONTANINI®
The House of Fontanini will celebrate its 100th Anniversary in 2008. Among the introductions that will commemorate this momentous event, the Centennial Holy Family offers a historically researched interpretation of Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus. Ideal for sharing lessons of faith with children, these hand-painted figures are cast of an unbreakable polymer and each includes a Story Card further detailing the story of the First Christmas.
Please contact Roman to find your local Fontanini Dealer, or visit www.roman.com for more information.
Exclusive ly by i. 9<oman, (Jnc. 1-800-Say-Roman (1-800- 729-7662) www.roman.com
Look for this Symbol of Authenticity on genuine figures from the Centennial Collection.
Creche Hunting .. .in Canada's Maritime Provinces
by Eileen Canty
When we began to plan our trip to the Maritimes, I had visions of creches with French, Scottish, and Acadian influences-perhaps even Native American. Imagine my disappointment when, despite literally hundreds of faxes , emails , and phone calls, I located only general creche sources , no ethnic ones . However , I remained hopeful that I might stumble across some while on the road, but I didn't. The best I could do was a book or two on Prince Edward Island's Christmas customs , with no mention of the Nativity.
But our trip was not in vain! We found some lovely and unusual Nativity items by local artists or in local materials. Our first stop, the boat terminus, was Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, home of Samuel B's Christmas (355 Main St. , Yarmouth , NS , 800-563-3557). They carry a nice selection of pewter by Oceanart and Seagull, as well as a latticed globe with a bas re lie/Nativity encircling the world (about $75)
Cottage industry knitters also supply colorful creches of 11inch figures following the classic Jean Greenhowe pattern ($100). A similarly priced set also is available from New Brunswick knitters at Cottage Craft Fine Woollens (209 Water St. , St. Andrews By the Sea, NB, 800-355-9665)
Hidden away in a cabinet at Far-Fetched Antiques & Art Gallery(27 Church St, Annapolis Royal, NS, 902-532-0179) was an 11 piece , four inch greenish-hued celadon set from Thailand ($230). I found a five piece (Mary is holding Jesus) , 12 inch creche of gilded , draped paper and fabric ($80) at Lincoln Ree/(218 Lincoln St. , Lunenberg, NS, 902634-4445). Eleanor Wyand and Sue Smith make a simple but charming 17 piece , carved and painted, four inch creche that is sold for about $115 at Down Home Living (175 Lincoln St. , Lunenburg , NS, 902-634-3175) and the craft outlet at LaHave Bakery/ Outfitters (3421 Route 331, LaHave , NS).
Madelyn and Peter Bowers of New Germany run a flower shop that also doubles as the Village Glassworks(R.R. 2, New Germany , NS , 902-644-3185) where Madelyn sells her stained glass creations Her Nativity set ($310) is comprised of a mix from patterns and her own designs . The unique aspect is that each piece is soldered onto an irregularly shaped mirror base. From star to donkey , they all fit together like a giant puzzle to form a scene about 12 "by28" Beatles' Bailiwick (124 Peggy's Point Rd ., Peggy's Cove , NS , 902-823-2099) in magnificent Peggy's Cove offered more Seagull pewter and a small whalebone carving of an Inuit Holy Family ($125) by Labrador carver James Colbourne Spruce Top Rug Hooking Studio(255 West Main St. , Mahone Bay, NS, 888-784-4665) had a few Nativity themed hooked wall hangings in the low three figures. Special orders are welcome with prices related to size
May Ocean, owner of Oceanart Pewter (1 Stoney Beach Rd ., White ' s Lake, NS , 800-407-4436) designed one ofmy favorites , a i 7 piece pewter creche complete with cock to stable , available with or without a wooden presentation box ($375 with , $300 without) She also makes Nativity
ornaments, sold individually and in sets ($20 for set of 6)
Although Anne of Green Gables looms large throughout Prince Edward Island , as far as I could see, she hasn ' t been incorporated into any creches. Local crafters do produce a white 12 piece two inch set with lighted stable for $35 in several places, including Confederation Centre of the Arts (145 Richmond St., Charlottetown, PEI, 902-566-4648)
At the Wharf's End Craft Shoppe , (Peake's Wharf, Charlottetown, PEI , 902-368-8555 , sandblasted glass scenes are available , one of Mary and Jesus on blue cost $15.
After driving over the nine-mile long bridge from Prince Edward Island, our final stop in the Maritimes was New Brunswick's beautiful resort town of St. Andrew ' s by the Sea In addition to the knitted set mentioned above , we saw a creche at Serendipin 'Art (168 Water St. , St. Andrew ' s by the Sea, NB, 866-529-3327). Carved by local folk artist , Bob Carney (www.bobcamey .ca) oflight hued wood (about $600) , it had won first prize at a recent competition. Eileen Canty lives in Marion , Massachusetts
???? and Comments
Q. Did the Roman poet Virgil (70 B.C.-19 B.C.)prophesy the Birth of Jesus in his Fourth Eclogue?
A. The Eclogues were ten pastoral poems mainly dealing with bucolic concerns. The Fourth Eclogue differs in that Virgil makes several allusions to a child who will bring about a Golden Age and free the world from fear . Early Christian scholars, as well as later writers such as the Italian poet Dante and the English poet John Dryden, who translated the work, interpreted the poem as a prophecy regarding the birth of Jesus Recent scholarship generally has not taken that interpretation. Below are lines from the Fourth Eclogue from Dryden's translation :
A golden Progeny from Heav ' n descends ;
0 chast Lucina speed the Mother ' s pains , And haste the glorious Birth
The Son shall lead the life of Gods , and be By Gods and Heroes seen , and Gods and Heroes see The jarring Nations he in peace shall bind , And with paternal Virtues rule Mankind.
Unbidden Earth shall wreathing ivy bring And fragrant herbs (the promises of Spring)
A s her first offerings to her Infant King.
Creche Herald subscription information US annual rate: $18 ; Canada/Mexico: US $21
Other countries : US$23
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 , addres s, telephone , e-mail
Discovering a Unique Treasure In Czech Republic
by Arlene Considine
The markets of East European cities abound with handmade treasures of embroidered linens, intricately decorated cookies, exquisite beadwork, and for me, beautiful Nativities and stunning antiques.
In the past, countries such as the Czech Republic, Slovenia and Hungary had been closed to Western tourists. Since 1989, these countries have opened their borders, and now a few friends and I were visiting.
After ten days of not finding any Nativity or Christmas items during our trip, our small group finally reached Cesky Krumlov, a medieval town three hours south of Prague. I was hopeful about this town as I had found an exceptional set there two years earlier. The moment I entered one of the shops I saw a shelf full of hand carved wooden figures and houses. I turned around, and the figures continued in another case-more figures, more houses. Then a third case with all these marvelously carved figures All were from the 1700s. Some in unique poses, such as the shepherds lying down watching their sheep. All with original paints and in great repair. Needless to say, I had to have them all-all 200 pieces. After paying my money, I figured I had a whole ocean going home during which to decide what to sell to pay for my new treasures-costly but well worth the investment. Arlene Considine, Clinton, Iowa, travels .frequently to Europe to locate unique Nativities.
EVENTS TO CELEBRATE THE SEASON
AUSTRALIA
New South Wales: Horsley Park, Nativity House, 13 6-146 Garfield Rd. Oct 1-Dec. 24. Admission. Proceeds to charity. 600 creches.Nativity@zeta.org.au. 61-2 9620 1218
UNITED STATES
Illinois: Chicago. Christkindlmarket. Washington, Dearborn & State Sts. Open daily. Nov. 25- Dec. 22. l la.m.-8 p.m. 312-644-4212 or: info@christkindlmarket.com.
Massachusetts:
Attleboro. 947 Park St. Festival of Lights at the National Shrine of Our Lady ofLaSalette. Over 100 creches indoors and over 250,000 lights on grounds. Nov. 25-Jan2. Call for hours: 508-222-5410
Sandwich. Sandwich Museums and Gardens, 67 Grove St. Eileen Canty collection; light displays. Nov 27-Jan 2 Confirm dates and times on website below. 508-888-3300. www.heritagemuseumsandgardens.org.
Michigan: Clinton Twp (Detroit area). St. Ronald Catholic Church, 17701 15 Mile Rd. Dec. 3,4,5. 200 sets. For times: Mike Whalen, nativity@ameritech.net. Check after 11/15.
Harrisburg. Colonial Park United Church of Christ, 5000 Devonshire Rd. Creche exhibit: Dec 10-12; Living Nativity: evenings 6-8:30. Tel: 717-545-3782.
Ingram. Church of the Ascension, 114 Berry St. Over 750 Nativities. Collection of Gary Grabowski. Dec 12-26 Donation benefits local food bank. Tel: 412-331-3217.
Philadelphia. Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, 18 th St. & Benjamin Franklin Parkway . Dec 10-Jan 6. Antique creche from former John Wanamaker Department Store. Tel: 215-587-3519. Msgr. Louis A. D'Addezio. South Carolina: Moncks Corner. Mepkin Abbey. Display and sale. Nov. 19-21; Nov. 26-28. Register online or by mail.www.mepkinabbey.org or Guerric@mepkinabbey.org. Mepkin Abbey, 1098 Mepkin Abbey Rd. Moncks Corner , SC 29461. Free. Donations welcome.
Utah: Midway. 165 No. Main. Dec. 3,4,5,6. 11 am-8 pm Over 700 Nativities from 80 countries. Tel: 534-654-6604. Email: hollyzen@aol.com.
A selected view of the carved wood Nativity figures Arlene Considine found in her trip to the Czech Republic.
Recalling the Saints of Advent
In our modern age of high technology and instant global communications, we are apt to lose the customs and traditions linked to the saints in earlier, simpler times. A few, like the Saint Lucia and Saint Nicholas customs , continue to charm . Others , such as those which invoked saintly help with a future spouse , seem like reminders of a long ago innocence Total oblivion was the fate of one beloved figure when research by the Roman Catholic Church determined she was more fiction than fact , and deleted her from the Church ' s calendar.
Many of the traditions mentioned here were recorded in Christmas Customs and Traditions by Clement A Miles, a book first published nearly one hundred years ago in 1912.
Saint Clement's Day, November 23. Pope Clement, thrown into the sea with an anchor, died c . 100 . England once considered this the first day of Winter. In the north , men begged for drinks , and children begged for apples. One of the begging rhymes was : " Clemany! Clemany! Clemany mine!
A good red apple and a pint of wine , Some of your mutton and some of your veal , If it is good, pray give me a deal.. "
Saint Catherine's Day, November 25. Catherine of Alexandria was a legendary figure whose feast day was suppressed by the Roman Catholic Church in 1969 when it determined she really had not existed . In earlier centuries, she was the patroness of spinsters-literally as well as figuratively as her day was a festival for lace makers and dressmakers English girls, wearing white dresses, paraded around the city seeking money of the inhabitants . In Paris , the married women presented the unmarried girls over twenty-five with a small cap trimmed in yellow ribbons Then they all went arm-in-arm to parade the streets and collect a tribute of flowers from men they would meet.
Saint Andrew's Day, November 30. Andrew the Apostle , brother of Simon Peter, was said to have been crucified on an " x" shaped cross in Greece . His day sometimes is considered the last of the important festivals in the Church year ; sometimes it is considered the first.
In Northamptonshire , in England , among the lace makers , the day was a time of general license ending in masquerading-women dressed in male clothing ; men dressed as females. For the women in Germany, Saint Andrew ' s Eve was a time of customs of augury, especially for young girls trying to determine the kind of husband they would get. On the border between Saxony and Bohemia, a girl wishing to know the physical build of her future husband would go in the darkness to a stack of wood . If the wood she drew out was smooth and straight, her man would be slim and well built ; if the · piece was crooked , she could expect little in physical attractions from her mate A man in Croatia would
fast on this day in the hopes that he would see his future wife in his dreams
In Romania, it was said the vampires rose from their graves on Saint Andrew ' s Eve and walked around the house. As a precaution , women anointed the door locks and window casements with garlic to keep away the spirits .
Saint Nicholas's Day, December 6. Nicholas was a fourth century bishop of Myra in Asia Minor known for his good works . His feast day came to be a joyful children ' s day when the youngsters received gifts from the saint if they were good , and rods if they were bad In Belgium and the Netherlands, the shops were filled with special sweets and cakes in honor of the feast.
In various parts of Germany, Switzerland, and Austria , Saint Nicholas came in the form of a man dressed as a bishop who gave out candy to the good children, a custom still practiced in many regions Sometimes, the good saint was accompanied by a hideous monster, variously called Krampus or Bartel to frighten the bad children During the Middle Ages in England , the day was a special day for young choristers or servers in the churches who elected a " boy bishop" to officiate at Vespers and the feast of the Holy Innocents on December 28
Saint Lucia's Day, December 13. Lucy , an early Christian martyr , died in 304 . Legend has it that her eyes were put out and then were miraculously restored. She is the saint invoked for eye injuries. In Sweden, the feast is the first day of the Christmas season where the oldest girl in a household serves as the Lucia girl. Wearing a white robe , red sash, and a wire crown with candles, she awakens family members with a sweet drink or coffee. In modern Sweden, Lucias reign over cities, businesses , schools , banks , selected much in the way of a beauty contest. In Italy , the day is a feast oflights-the pageantry perhaps suggested by the name of the saint-lux-light. Bonfires and torchlight processions mark the Eve For Danish girls , Saint Lucia's Eve was a day of hope ; their prayer was: " Sweet Saint Lucy , let me know: whose cloth I shall lay, whose bed I shall make , whose child I shall bear, whose darling I shall be , whose arms I shall sleep in."
Saint Thomas's Day, December 21. Thomas , the doubting Apostle, was said to have preached in India. He was an early Christian martyr and is believed to be buried in that country In Denmark, the feast formerly was a children ' s day as it was the last day of school before the holidays. Children and teachers exchanged gifts , usually of food English girls used a divination called " St. Thomas' s onion." They put a peeled onion wrapped in a handkerchief under their heads at night, praying the saint to show them their true love in a dream. In parts of Austria, Saint Thomas' s Eve was a day to sanctify the house with incense and holy water. RBB
Nativity in the Window Still Enchants by
Mary Herzel
Times have changed. The large store in the center of the city used to be an attraction of upscale merchandising as well as cultural and religious events.
" The Nativity now displayed at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, can be traced back to the former Wanamaker Department Store in the downtown area, " explained Monsignor Louis A. D 'Addezio, Diocesan Director of The Office for Special Projects/Closures. "John Wanamaker, a religious man, and one of the great merchants of his era-the late 19th and early 20 th centuries-was connected with the history of Philadelphia ."
The creche had been made by Eugenio Pattarino (18851971) a famous ceramicist of Florence, Italy, whose works had been given as gifts by the Vatican to such personages as President John F. Kennedy. Pattarino's sculptures were marketed from a shop in Florence on the River Amo Some years ago, Pattarino's shop was washed away in a flood, along with its records and sculptures. As a result, the sculptor's works have become quite rare and increasingly valuable.
When the Wanamaker Department Store closed in 1995, about 73 years after the founder's death, the creche in the window of his Philadelphia store was not part of the sale. Instead, the creche was purchased by an antique dealer.
Later, upon the antique dealer's death, he willed the Pattarino creche to his close friend, a Catholic priest.
"Five years ago," continued Monsignor D 'Addezio, "this priest, knowing my job was to dispose of the contents of closed churches, approached me. He told me that ifl would display the piece in a prominent place, I could have the pleasure of taking this creche. Of course, I seized the opportunity. With my job, I have discovered a lot of disposed treasures in attics, cellars, warehouses, but none has matched this offer."
Now, each year during the holiday season, Monsignor D" Addezio places the rare baroque style creche in the side chapel of the Cathedral. "It helps to share this prized possession of a part of the history of Philadelphia," he said . The Wanamaker store had been an important attraction of the city. During the major Christian holidays, such as Christmas and Easter, the store blazed with religious symbols such as mangers, angels, crosses, and with splendid works of art depicting Christian events Thousands of people would throng the building just to see the displays.
"Many come to admire the creche at the Cathedral, and some remember they had seen it a long time ago in the window of the downtown Wanamaker store," noted the prelate, with a touch of pride in being able to preserve a treasure and again share it with the people of the city
325 CAMERON STREET • ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA 703-836-6969
Mary Herzel , formerly from Philadelphia, says she was one of the visitors who flocked to see the Wanamaker holiday displays.
This Nativity , now at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, Philadelphia, was an annual feature of the holiday windows at the former John Wanamaker Department Store of that city.
CONVENTION VACATION OF A UFETIME
LAND OF ENCHANTING NATIVITIES---- SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO
2005 FRIENDS OF THE CRECHE CONVENTION
November 9-11, 2005
You won't want to miss this exciting Friends of the Creche Convention in Santa Fe, New Mexico, the legendaiy land of enchantment
Four hundred years ago, intrepid Spanish explorers pushed north from New Spain looking for the three Gs : gold; glory, and God. They found neither gold nor glory, but they brought their Christian faith to this most remote point of the Spanish Empire. In producing their own religious images, they developed a style which we call Spanish Colonial. Pueblo Indians, converted by the Spanish to Christianity, now also create pottery Nativities. The program of the 2005 Convention will reflect the wide variety of vibrant cultures and traditions in the Santa Fe area
A special treat awaits interested conventioneers On November 12, an optional tour offers the opportunity to participate in a Pueblo Indian feast day celebration. We will be there to watch a Com Dance, shop at a street market, and eat in one of the private pueblo homes. One of these homes was once a "Bethlehem" for nearly two weeks, a custom unique to this pueblo. We might be limited in the number we can have for this optional fascinating event, so be sure to sign up well in advance.
The Friends of the Creche Convention takes place at the La Fonda Hotel, on the plaza at the end of the Santa Fe Trail Neamy is the fabled Saint Francis Cathedral and its lovely parlc. You will have an opportunity for an optional tour of this historic area.
Registration forms will appear in the Winter Creche Herald
Further information:
Susan Weber, stoppweber@earthlink.net; Judy Davis, judydavis12@comcast.net; Holly Zenger, hollyzen@aol com
Szopki from the collection of Sue Mya/, Tucson, Arizona The smallest szopka is about 5" high; the tallest is 20" high.
