The Italian Presepe: A Christmas Tradition | Italy The Italian Presepe: A Christmas Tradition The Holy Nativity in Italy Submitted by annadefilippo on Mon, 12/12/2016 - 11:59 The Holy Nativity in Italy A small forward... The Presepe is truly a piece of Italy's tradition and heritage. As you are about to read, the history of Presepe is well rooted in that of Italy and even those who are not practicing Catholics tend to consider it an integrant part of their Christmas. It is important to underline it because, in the past bunch of years, our beloved Presepe has been under attack. Italy has been developing – not always happily and not always successfully – into a more culturally and ethnically varied country, where freedom of cult is, of course, guaranteed. Allegedly to protect such freedom, calls to remove Presepe from schools and public places have been growing. This created a huge mediatic backlash and ultimately increased intolerance.

If you think it is non-Catholics and non-Italians to say "no" to Presepe, you are wrong: it is our school principals, our directors to do it, and they are all Italians. Non-Catholics coming from outside Italy are, mostly, pretty cool with Presepe and accept, some happily others more grudgingly, the culture and heritage of the country they chose as theirs. It is we Italians creating the issue and it is shameful. Italy's glorious culture and heritage come from an equally glorious past, rooted in Graeco-Roman and Judeo-Christian traditions. Presepe, a symbol of the Nativity, should not only be important to Catholics celebrating the birth of Christ, but to all Italians aware of their own past and heritage. It seems to me that, too often, we try to better ourselves by embracing all that is new, forgetting where we come from or, even worse, feeling ashamed of our own origins. There is nothing wrong in embracing the new, being tolerant and find beauty and righteousness in other people's cultures, sets of believes or lack thereof.

But neglecting one's cultural heritage and, even worst, denying it in name of another, is a shameful, shameful act, as there is nothing worse than killing Memory: it is the beginning of the end of a civilization. This is not going to be an easy Christmas for our Presepe: removed from many schools in Italy "not to offend non-Christians," when non-Christians are, on average, not bothered with Presepi in schools, and Christmas being celebrated as it always has. And even if non-Christians were not happy with the cultural display our Christmas is, we should never, as a nation, as representatives of a culture that is common to billions of people around the world, spit in the eye of our tradition just because we were said or suggested to do it. Our culture, the one we were born into, is the very own essence of our Humanity, let us never forget it. It's Not Christmas Without a "Presepe" » At Home in Tuscany The tradition of presepe has ancient roots. In Italy the nativity scene was for a very long time the only Christmas decoration, and it is still a wonderful tradition today.

It’s Not Christmas Without a “Presepe” There was a time when Christmas was not about decorated trees, Santa Claus, elves, reindeer and the like. It was about religion. The entire holiday season revolved around religious celebrations rather than decorations and expensive gifts. Few families had Christmas trees, but most of them had a “presepe”, the nativity scene. Also known as crèche or crib in English, presepe is an ancient tradition. Saint Francis is said to have been the first to build one in the 13th century in the town of Greccio, in Lazio. The name comes from the Latin word praesaepe, which means “manger“. Saint Francis’ presepe had real people impersonating the different characters, and it inspired many other communities to reenact the birth of Jesus on Christmas day through similar “presepi viventi“, real-life nativity scenes. They are still very popular today, and more and more towns organize real plays around Christmas time. In some cases, towns are completely transformed into a large nativity scene with local people in costume.

An Italian city with a long tradition of presepi is Naples, where the creation of amazing nativity scenes is a real form of art . Contemporary famous people are mixed in with traditional characters. Neapolitan artists work hard to make statues of the latest celebrity. President Obama and his Nobel Prize will be in this year’s nativity scene as well! Some think that the origin of the Christmas crib is prior to the 13th century, and that its roots are actually in the Etruscan and Latin cult of lares familiares, the spirits of the dead ancestors, who were believed to watch over the family. Each of the ancestors was represented by a statuette called sigillum, “small image”, usually placed in niches in the house. On December 20, Romans celebrated Sigillaria, a holiday on which family members exchanged statuettes of the relatives dead during the last 12 months. In the days leading to Sigillaria, children polished the sigilla and used them to create miniature pastoral scenes. The night before the holiday, the family would gather by this scene and pray to the souls of their ancestors and would offer them food and drink.

The following morning, in place of the food and drink left for the lares, the children would find toys and gifts left behind by their grandparents or great-grandparents. Christianity, as in many other occasions, kept the dates and the rituals, but changed their meaning. This one, though, continued for centuries in many regions, as it was deeply rooted in family memories and affections. In some areas, sigillaria was still celebrated up until the 15th century, although imbued of Christian meanings and symbolism. When Saint Francis introduced presepe as a way to reenact the events of the birth of Jesus to the moment of the arrival of the Three Wise Men, the tradition took on quite quickly and it has been a very popular way to celebrate Christmas in Italy ever since. Presepe is a representation rich in symbols, most of which originate in Luke’s narration of the birth of Christ, such as the manger, the shepherds, and the angels in the sky. Other typical elements come from sacred art, such as St. Joseph’s humble attitude and the Virgin Mary’s blue mantle, representing the sky.

A curiosity: since in the Canonical Gospels the nativity is described very vaguely, the unfailing presence of certain figures can be traced to Non-canonical Gospels, such as the donkey and the ox and the stable (or the cave, preferred in the Oriental tradition, probably because of the ancient cult of the Persian goddess Mitra, also born on December 25 in a cave). Even the Three Wise Men, Melkon, Gaspar e Balthasar are derived from the narration in a Non-Canonical Gospel. Over the centuries, local traditions have added to the list of the omnipresent characters: thus, the Devil is almost always present in Neapolitan cribs and in Bologna, some characters (sometimes allegorical) are used, such as Awe, the “late riser” and the “curious woman“. Some other interesting anecdotes about presepe. The most ancient known presepe was sculpted by Arnolfo di Cambio at the end of the 13th century and can be still admired in the museum of the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome.

Some very famous names contributed to the success of the iconography of the nativity scene in the 14th century: Botticelli‘s Adoration of the Magi includes some members of the Medici family and is now housed in the Uffizi Gallery. Della Robbia made some beautiful terracotta sculptures representing the nativity scene: the most famous (and most beautiful) is in La Verna near Arezzo, another is in the Cathedral of Volterra . The oldest presepe with large statues (a very popular custom in the 16th century, when they were permanently on display in the major churches) is the monumental presepe of the Basilica di Santo Stefano in Bologna. More recently, mechanical presepi became popular for a while. Here is a list of the best ones: Presepe meccanico di San Pietro del Gallo (Cuneo) Presepe meccanico di Tarantasca The Presepe Tradition of Naples, Italy - La Gazzetta Italiana The Presepe Tradition of Naples, Italy December 2012 | Margie Longano Miklas A typical Nativity scene in Italy.

Christmas in Naples, Italy is truly special particularly since Naples is most famous for its Nativity scenes or presepi. Presepe means crib or crèche and the one place in Naples that is a must-see especially at Christmastime is the famous pedestrian street, via San Gregorio Armeno. Located in the centro storico, or historic district of Napoli, this street has hundreds of shops featuring hand-made presepi. Via San Gregorio Armeno Sometimes called the "street of Nativity workshops," or "Christmas Alley," via San Gregorio Armeno in Naples is particularly popular at Christmastime. Over half a million tourists visit these small shops which line the street on both sides. Although they are open year round, the best time to visit is during the months of September or October, before the busy Christmas season, just at the time when the artisans are preparing their shops for Christmas. You can even observe these skilled craftsmen actually work on the figures as they carve and paint them. Presepi - A Tradition in Italy Complete Nativity sets range from 40 euros to 4,000 euros and even more. The various shops also sell a plethora of figurines and accessories to use in creating your own presepe.

In Italy, the Nativity scene doesn't just consist of Baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph and the Three Wise Men. A whole village is created around the manger itself. In Italy, every family has a presepe, and starting December 8, Italian families set up their presepi inside their homes, taking great pride in creating very elaborate scenes with lighting, backdrops, running water and multiple figures. However, Baby Jesus is never placed in the crib until Christmas Eve, and the presepe usually stays up for a month until after the feast of the Epiphany. Italians are very serious about the presepe. In fact, when my Italian friend Angela visited me during Christmastime she actually made one for me. She was surprised that I only had the terracotta figures. I was so impressed with how elaborate it was. The finished presepe was complete with twinkling Christmas lights, burlap, fake grass, and carpeting, to resemble the manger scene. It was beautiful! Luckily, I took a photo of it so that each year I can re-construct it by myself. She used a cardboard box and some inexpensive items to create this work of art.

History of the Presepe It was actually St. Francis of Assisi who is credited with popularizing the presepe, using live animals and real people for his Nativity scenes. In the 13th century in a cave in the small town of Greccio, St. Francis built a manger scene and celebrated Mass. Since then the tradition spread throughout all of Italy, but the Neapolitans believe that they do it best. Throughout the city of Naples, hundreds are presepi are displayed at Christmastime. Often the presepe even consist of real people and animals and are called presepi viventi. Museo Nazionale di San Martino TIf you still want to see more presepi, you can visit the largest Nativity scene in the world by making a stop at the Museo Nazionale di San Martino in Naples. A former monastery, this large building is home to the Presepe Cuciniello It includes over 160 characters, 80 animals, 28 angels and over 400 miniature objects. Italian Christmas Cribs and Nativity Scenes in Italy Vatican Nativity.

by Lorna Davidson, The Roman Guy , used by permission Updated December 26, 2015. Traditionally, the main focus of Christmas decorations in Italy is the Nativity scene, presepe or presepio in Italian. Every church has a presepe and they can be found in squares, shops, and other public areas. Displays often go beyond the manger scene and may even include a representation of the entire village. Presepi are usually set up starting December 8, the Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception, through January 6, Epiphany , but some are unveiled on Christmas Eve. Most Italians set up a Christmas crib in their house and figurines for nativity scenes are made in many parts of Italy, with some of the best coming from Naples and Sicily. Although the presepe is usually set up before Christmas, baby Jesus is added on Christmas Eve. Origins of Italian Nativity Scenes The Nativity scene is said to have originated with Saint Francis of Assisi in 1223 when he constructed a nativity scene in a cave in the town of Greccio and held Christmas Eve mass and a nativity pageant there.

continue reading below our video Best Road Trip Apps Greccio reenacts this event each year. Carving figurines for nativity scenes started in the late 13th century when Arnolfo di Cambio was commissioned to carve marble nativity figures for the first Rome Jubilee held in 1300. Said to be the oldest permanent Christmas crib, it can be seen in the museum of Santa Maria Maggiore Church and is one of the top things to see in Rome during Christmas season . Best places to see Chrsitmas Cribs, or Presepi, in Italy Naples is the best city to visit for their presepi. Hundreds of nativity scenes are erected throughout the city. Some creches are very elaborate and may be handmade or use antique figures. Starting December 8, the Church of Gesu' Nuovo, in Piazza del Gesu', displays nativity scene art work from the Neapolitan Nativity Scenes Association. The street Via San Gregorio Armeno in central Naples is filled with displays and stalls selling Nativity scenes all year. See our pictures of Via San Gregorio Armeno and Naples Nativity Pictures .

In Vatican City a huge presepe is constructed in Saint Peter's Square for Christmas that is usually unveiled on Christmas Eve. A Christmas Eve mass is held in Saint Peter's square, usually at 10 pm. In Rome some of the biggest and most elaborate presepi are found in Piazza del Popolo , Piazza Euclide, Santa Maria in Trastevere, and Santa Maria d'Aracoeli, on the Capitoline Hill. A life-size nativity scene is set up in Piazza Navona where a Christmas market is also held. The Church of Saints Cosma e Damiano, by the main entrance to the Roman Forum , has a large nativity scene from Naples on display all year. Bethlehem in the Grotto - an elaborate lifesize nativity scene is created each year and transported to the Grotte di Stiffe , a beautiful cave in the Abruzzo region , about 20 miles from L'Aquila. The scene is illuminated and can be visited during December. Verona has an international display of nativities in the huge Roman Arena through January. Trento in northern Italy's Alto-Adige region has a large nativity scene in Piazza Duomo.

Jesolo, 30 km from Venice, has a sand sculpture nativity made by top international sand sculpture artists. It takes place daily in Piazza Marconi through mid-January. Donations are used to fund charitable projects. Manarola in Cinque Terre has a unique ecological nativity powered by solar energy. More information Celleno, a tiny town in the northern Lazio region about 30 km from Viterbo, has a magnificent presepe that is set up for viewing all year. Celleno is also famous for its cherries. Many churches in Milan have elaborate nativity scenes set up around Christmas time. Some churches in small towns have a mechanical presepe, with figurines that move, such as this mechanical presepe in Pallerone , a small town in northern Tuscany's Lunigiana region . Presepio Museums in Italy Il Museo Nazionale di San Martino in Naples has an elaborate collection of nativity scenes from the 1800s.

Il Museo Tipologico Nazionale del Presepio, under the church of Saints Quirico e Giulitta in Rome, has over 3000 figurines from all over the world made out of almost anything you can imagine. The museum has very limited hours and is closed in summer but they are open each afternoon December 24-January 6. In October they have a course where you can learn to make presepe yourself. Phone 06 679 6146 for information. Il Museo Tipologico del Presepio in Macerata in the Marche region has more than 4000 nativity pieces and a 17th century presepe from Naples. Presepe Vivente: A Live Christmas Tradition | ITALY Magazine Presepe Vivente: A Live Christmas Tradition Natalie Aldern | Monday, December 20, 2010 - 12:47 During Christmastime in Italy, you are bound to come across presepi in homes and piazzas all over the country. Presepe, which translates directly to “crib,” is a traditional nativity scene depicting the manger where Jesus was born.

While you might not find a Christmas tree in every Italian home, there is a good chance you will see a nativity scene, some of which have been passed down through generations. The presepi can look very different depending on what region of Italy you find yourself in. The materials used to create the scene will depend on the typical products found in that particular Italian city. For example, a Sicilian presepe might incorporate materials like orange branches or coral, while Neapolitan presepe will generally have pastors constructed of terracotta. While small models are common, many cities also have a presepe vivente, or a living nativity scene. It is thought that St. Francis hosted the first living nativity scene in 1223, sparking a tradition that continues in Italy to this day. Beginning on Christmas day, and running until January 6th, towns throughout Italy hold pageants to reenact the night of Jesus’ birth. Actors portray Mary, Joseph, the three Magi and other biblical figures from the gospel. Some presepe vivente can include over 100 participants!

But one figure you won’t see in the presepe, living or modeled, before December 24th, is the baby Jesus. The tiny model finds his way into the manger scene on Christmas Eve. In presepe vivente, a young baby from the town has the special honor of representing Gesú Bambino. The most famous presepi presentations are found in Milan, Rome and Naples, but the great variation of nativity scenes throughout the country are one more example of the beautiful traditions that you can enjoy wherever you celebrate Christmas in Italy. Topic: Christmas in Italy for Kids: Christmas Traditions and Celebrations Contact us Christmas in Italy Christmas in Italy is celebrated over several weeks as Italians celebrate from early December, depending on the region, until the day of Epiphany, on the 6th of January. Especially the children look forward to the start of the Christmas season in December when Christmas trees are put up and houses are decorated. St Peter's Basilica and Christmas Tree In front of St Peters cathedral in Vatican City (see image above), there is a huge Christmas tree put up and many families buy tickets to get entrance to the festive midnight-mass which is held by the Pope.

Italian Christmas Market There is a festive atmosphere during the whole of December. Christmas markets with various stalls with typical food, Christmas sweets and gifts can be visited in many towns especially in Italy's northern Alto-Adige Region. In the image above you see the Christmas market in Bolzano and the image below shows a popular Christmas market in Rome. Christmas Market in Rome/Italy On 6th of December, many families celebrate St Nicholas Day. Children write letters to St Nicholas asking for gifts and they hang up either a sock or put a plate on the table on Nicholas day’s eve. Sometimes even a St Nicholas visits the homes of children. Then children sing a Christmas carol or recite a poem. San Nicolo, the Italian name for Saint Nicholas If the children have been good children throughout the last year, they will get some fruits, nuts and sweets from St Nicholas, the naughty ones get usually also a sweet, but one looking like coal. Find more insights to St Nicholas Day on Staci’s website here . Typical Nativity Scene During the festive season and Christmas in Italy, a nativity scene, a ‘presepe’, is usually put up in churches, town squares and often in houses and is for many the most important parts of Christmas decorations.

Especially the people of Southern Italy are fond of their nativity scene displays as the image below (taken in Messina/Sicily) shows. Did you know that the nativity scene display with a crib filled with straw, originally stems from Italy and is now common in many countries around the world. It is said that the crib scene was first used, when San Francis held his Christmas mass in front of a nativity scene and the people were admiring the beauty of the miracle of Christ’s birth in a manger. Crib in the Messina Cathedral In the Abruzzi region, there is a tradition that bagpipers, so called ‘zampognari’ come into the towns and play their flutes and bagpipes for the people. They symbolize the shepherds who come in search of the new born Jesus baby. Below see two Italians dressed as ‘zampognari’. (Image below by Domenico Vitti, settefrati.net) Typical Zampognari Christmas in Italy On Christmas Eve, as in the old Catholic tradition, often no food is eaten during the day as this is a fast day. The festive celebrations start after midnight mass.

Nowadays, ‘Babbo Natale’, the Father Christmas, brings presents to children on Christmas eve. Babbo Natale, the Italian Santa Claus But as in true Italian style, gifts are exchanged only on January 6 that is the day of Epiphany. Then ‘la befana’, an old lady, comes in search to the houses for search of the Christ Child. Christmas Stockings for everyone Children hang up their stockings, so that the befana can bring presents to the good children. The naughty ones get lumps of black sugar sweets. The arrival of ‘La befana’ is celebrated with traditional Christmas cake, the panettone, a sweet yeast cake, you can see below. Typical Italian Panettone Now we wish you ‘Buon Natale’, that means Merry Christmas in Italian. And 'Buona Festa', have a great holiday! Merry Christmas It's Christmas time! | Italian Story Tellers by 9780wpczar | Dec 3, 2014 | Events | 0 comments December has started and the Christmas atmosphere has come. Nowadays Christmas in Italy is especially a commercial event addressed to children who expect to receive the presents they demanded.

In fact you can see in the supermarkets the typical sweets and food already in November or you can watch on the tv several ads about brand new games, new technological products, discounts and so on. If you know the real spirit of the religious celebration, you can realize that this kind of celebration has nothing to do with that. For Catholics Christmas represents the Nativity of Jesus Christ and it is a great moment because it is the representation of the existance of God and the beginning of the New Covenant. Birth of Jesus As our religion is a mixture of pagan and religious, also in Christmas we can find both aspects. We celebrate the Nativity in the night between 24th and 25th December, but Jesus wasn’t born in this period. Christian religion developed during the Roman time and at that time the religion of all the people was the paganism. On 25th December Romans celebrated the ‘Day of the Sun’, because until 24th the daylight is shorter than after the 25th. The celebration is connected with the cult of Mitra, the God of war. The Roman calendar was based on 5 seasons instead of 4, like the Greek one, and the year 0 corresponds to the birth of Jesus.

Actually Jesus was born in Spring, but the Catholic church to ease the conversion of Romans decided to fix the birth on the same day the Romans already had a celebration. This decision is the reason why the split between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox took place. New Years’ Eve is the only celebration the two Churches share. Santa Claus Obviously Babbo Natale (i.e. Father Christmas) doesn’t exist, but if he should exist he has to be connected with the personality of Saint Nicolaus. The colour which distinguishes the saint, also attributed to the Christmas festivity, is the green. In fact the color of the bishop Nicolaus was the green with gold fibres. Green and gold are the colours of Christmas, but the globalization and the first advertising stereotypes of the second postwar added another colour: red. Generally people thinks that Coca-cola used this colour first, but other companies did it before. Nativity scene The introduction of the presepe (i.e. the nativity scene) is attributed to Saint Francis of Assisi. In 1219 the friar went to the places where Jesus was born and lived. He was really impressed by the visit and felt a special feeling for the moment of Jesus’ birth.

In that period he was living in Greccio, a town in the Lazio region. In autumn 1223 Francis was in Rome to receive the approval of the Franciscan order by Pope Onorio III. On this occasion the friar asked the Pope to realize the representation of the Nativity. Nowadays it is most common to prepare the Christmas tree, but in Italy the real Cristian tradition is presepe. The first one was made by Arnolfo di Cambio in 1283 and you can admire it in the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome. From here starts our Christmas tradition tour along Italian regions. If you want to follow it, just click here and bookmark the link. Merry Christmas to all of you! Submit a Comment The “Presepe” an Italian tradition for Christmas | Christmas You are here: Home / Christmas / The “Presepe” an Italian tradition for Christmas The “Presepe” an Italian tradition for Christmas Traditionally, every Italian family has a nativity scene at home for Christmas. The Italian name of the representation of nativity is “Presepe” (crib). There is no Christmas without “Presepe”.

Small or large, the nativity is not lacking in Italian homes, to the delight of children and adults. In the beginning of December families prepare their own “Presepe”. In Naples, the tradition of “Presepe” becomes art. We selected these two videos to give you an idea of what the Presepe is. You will see how Naples is preparing for the arrival of Christmas, as every year. The street of San Gregorio Armeno, in Naples, is the heart of the Italian tradition of nativity scenes. Take a walk with us and look at the small craftworks, in which the sacred joins to the profane. Between traditional and religious figures, every year politicians, athletes, entertainers, become new puppets to add to the Presepe. Small works of art made ​​by our artisans who carry on over the centuries this wonderful Italian tradition. Here the first video: Italian Christmas Cribs and Nativity Scenes in Italy Vatican Nativity. by Lorna Davidson, The Roman Guy , used by permission Updated December 26, 2015. Traditionally, the main focus of Christmas decorations in Italy is the Nativity scene, presepe or presepio in Italian.

Every church has a presepe and they can be found in squares, shops, and other public areas. Displays often go beyond the manger scene and may even include a representation of the entire village. Presepi are usually set up starting December 8, the Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception, through January 6, Epiphany , but some are unveiled on Christmas Eve. Most Italians set up a Christmas crib in their house and figurines for nativity scenes are made in many parts of Italy, with some of the best coming from Naples and Sicily. Although the presepe is usually set up before Christmas, baby Jesus is added on Christmas Eve. Origins of Italian Nativity Scenes The Nativity scene is said to have originated with Saint Francis of Assisi in 1223 when he constructed a nativity scene in a cave in the town of Greccio and held Christmas Eve mass and a nativity pageant there. continue reading below our video Best Road Trip Apps Greccio reenacts this event each year.

Carving figurines for nativity scenes started in the late 13th century when Arnolfo di Cambio was commissioned to carve marble nativity figures for the first Rome Jubilee held in 1300. Said to be the oldest permanent Christmas crib, it can be seen in the museum of Santa Maria Maggiore Church and is one of the top things to see in Rome during Christmas season . Best places to see Chrsitmas Cribs, or Presepi, in Italy Naples is the best city to visit for their presepi. Hundreds of nativity scenes are erected throughout the city. Some creches are very elaborate and may be handmade or use antique figures. Starting December 8, the Church of Gesu' Nuovo, in Piazza del Gesu', displays nativity scene art work from the Neapolitan Nativity Scenes Association. The street Via San Gregorio Armeno in central Naples is filled with displays and stalls selling Nativity scenes all year. See our pictures of Via San Gregorio Armeno and Naples Nativity Pictures . In Vatican City a huge presepe is constructed in Saint Peter's Square for Christmas that is usually unveiled on Christmas Eve.

A Christmas Eve mass is held in Saint Peter's square, usually at 10 pm. In Rome some of the biggest and most elaborate presepi are found in Piazza del Popolo , Piazza Euclide, Santa Maria in Trastevere, and Santa Maria d'Aracoeli, on the Capitoline Hill. A life-size nativity scene is set up in Piazza Navona where a Christmas market is also held. The Church of Saints Cosma e Damiano, by the main entrance to the Roman Forum , has a large nativity scene from Naples on display all year. Bethlehem in the Grotto - an elaborate lifesize nativity scene is created each year and transported to the Grotte di Stiffe , a beautiful cave in the Abruzzo region , about 20 miles from L'Aquila. The scene is illuminated and can be visited during December. Verona has an international display of nativities in the huge Roman Arena through January. Trento in northern Italy's Alto-Adige region has a large nativity scene in Piazza Duomo. Jesolo, 30 km from Venice, has a sand sculpture nativity made by top international sand sculpture artists.

It takes place daily in Piazza Marconi through mid-January. Donations are used to fund charitable projects. Manarola in Cinque Terre has a unique ecological nativity powered by solar energy. More information Celleno, a tiny town in the northern Lazio region about 30 km from Viterbo, has a magnificent presepe that is set up for viewing all year. Celleno is also famous for its cherries. Many churches in Milan have elaborate nativity scenes set up around Christmas time. Some churches in small towns have a mechanical presepe, with figurines that move, such as this mechanical presepe in Pallerone , a small town in northern Tuscany's Lunigiana region . Presepio Museums in Italy Il Museo Nazionale di San Martino in Naples has an elaborate collection of nativity scenes from the 1800s. Il Museo Tipologico Nazionale del Presepio, under the church of Saints Quirico e Giulitta in Rome, has over 3000 figurines from all over the world made out of almost anything you can imagine.

The museum has very limited hours and is closed in summer but they are open each afternoon December 24-January 6. In October they have a course where you can learn to make presepe yourself. Phone 06 679 6146 for information. Il Museo Tipologico del Presepio in Macerata in the Marche region has more than 4000 nativity pieces and a 17th century presepe from Naples. The Presepe: Naples Christmas Tradition - ArtTravArtTrav The Presepe: Naples Christmas Tradition By Guest_Post on Dec 21, 2010 with 0 Comments If one thinks of the words Christmas, Naples and traditions, the first things that come to mind are likely presepe (manger/crèche scenes)… closely followed by Christmas desserts such as the famous struffoli, roccoco’, mostaccioli, susamielli, sapienze, paste reali, divinamore. All of these traditional delicacies sweeten life in Naples during the holiday season. This article is dedicated more to the eyes than to the stomach: the history and composition of the Neapolitan presepe.

Origins Strolling down Via San Gregorio Armeno in Naples’ ancient city center, even during other periods of the year, the artisinal workshops are hard at work. They are worth visiting not only for their lively displays but also to watch the artisans at work on the figurines for the upcoming Christmas season – clearly displaying their “Not Made in China” signs. This detail is their small way of asserting the authenticity of their manual traditions. One might imagine that the presepe were born of a folk tradition but Neapolitans beg to differ. As the tradition goes, it was “invented” by Saint Francis of Assisi when he reenacted the Nativity using the local people of the town of Greccio (in the Lazio region) – transmitting devotion through emotional engagement. The cross over from this “living” crèche scene to an inanimate one was a short one – churches all over Italy soon started constructing life-sized presepe within dedicated chapels. In Naples, the churches of San Giovanni a Carbonara, San Domenico Maggiore, San’Eligio, Santa Chiara all housed early versions of the art form.

From religious to secular Thus, originally, the presepe was solely an ecclesiastical tradition, until the beginning of the 18th century when some die-hard “fans” turned it into an equally secular one. Legend has it that the Austrian viceroy visited the architect Giovan Battista Nauclerio in 1707 to view the spectacular “home version” that the architect constructed in his villa. One of the most significant episodes that contributed to the secularization of the presepe is attributed to King Charles III of Bourbon, the Spanish king who ruled Naples from 1734 to 1759. King Charles was so dedicated to the pastoral figurines that they quickly became a “must have” object for all middle-class Neapolitan families, who loved to mimic the customs of the royal family. Presepe scenes Over the years, the traditional Neapolitan presepe began to acquire greater and greater numbers of characters and props, which would then be grouped into individual “scenes.” The different scenes, usually three or four, would be arranged on an anchoring rock.

The traditional Nativity is always the central scene, with the Madonna, Joseph, ox and donkey, usually placed within a grotto. Of secondary importance was the evangelical scene, usually depicted in front of a backdrop of a pagan temple, which symbolically represented continuity from the Roman world, upon whose ruins Christianity was born. Or perhaps this ancient imagery is a reference to the excavations taking place during this era in Pompeii and Herculaneum. Nativity scene – photo flickr @ginozar Next to the Nativity is the procession of the Magi, each one representing the three different continents known during Biblical times: Europe, Asia and Africa. Escorting the Three Kings with their gifts is a procession of musicians carrying “exotic” musical instruments and wearing clothing with Middle Eastern connotations. This procession is actually an homage to the Turkish convoy that visited Naples in 1741 and fascinated its inhabitants with its splendor, so much so that it was celebrated in all subsequent presepe scenes. Next is the “Announcement to the shepherds” – an angel appears to let the common people know about the miraculous occasion.

The last scene, perhaps the most elaborate of the Neapolitan presepe, is the osteria, or tavern, where Mary and Joseph vainly attempted to find shelter earlier that evening. Characters are seated at overflowing tables, hosts and hostesses serving various foodstuffs, card players, musicians, artisans working on their wares. The prespe is populated by “typical” figures, each with a symbolic meaning. There’s the sleeping pastor, Benito, the laundress, to the lactating woman, the “maccheroni-eaters”, who are excitedly eating pasta with their bare hands. For those interested in seeing historic presepe, there are several places in Naples where they can be found. There’s an entire section of the San Martino Museum devoted to crèche figures and scenes, which is particularly rich and elaborate and where one can see figurines made by important artists like Giuseppe Sammartino, the creator of the “Veiled Christ” in the Cappella Sansevero. Other notable prespe on permanent display are in the cloister of Santa Chiara, in the Palatine Chapel of the Palazzo Reale and in the Reggia of Caserta.

Of the workshops that crowd the neighborhood of San Gregorio Armeno, one particularly of note is “La Scarabattola” (Via dei Tribunali 50). A guest post by Maria Laura Chiacchio – native Neapolitan, art historian and Context Naples docent. Book a tour of Naples, Rome, Florence, Venice or more with Context Travel . Share this:

Question: Presepe in Italy refers to what Christmas tradition?
Answer: Nativity scene