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The Presepio in Eastern Europe
In Hungary the Presepio, called Bethlehem, is portable. It
can be in the shape of a church, a stable or a little chest with
curtains and varies in height from 25 to 150 cm. A candle burns
in front and the doors or curtains open wide to show the figures
sometimes cut out of paper, or fashioned of wood or clay and then
decorated with cotton wool. The Presepio is carried from house to
house by children called Bethlehemsek, some dressed as angels, who
sing and dance.
In Russia the Presepio, called Wertep, consists of a neo-classical
style chest with two levels decorated with a Christmas Star and
animated with puppets. The story is told while the people admire
the scenes portrayed. The upper level shows the religious scene:
the adoration of the Magi, the massacre of the Holy Innocents and
the death of Herod. The lower floor offers amusing scenes of daily
life which are very popular. It would seem that the texts for the
Wertep were written by students of Kiev Academy, who were very familiar
with the tastes and customs of the ordinary people. The Wertep gained
in popularity, spreading from Ukraine, to Little Russia then to
Belo-Russia, Siberia and eventually to Moscow.
In Poland the Szopka is built in the shape of a cathedral
and decorated with silver-paper of different colours. It has three
parts: the upper level shows angels blowing trumpets and announcing
the birth of Jesus, the centre level shows the Nativity scene and
the lower level shows Polish peasants, shepherds with sheep and
oxen, and the Three Wise men. Portable Szopke are carried from house
to house by children who sing carols called Colende, and receive
chocolate and money in return.
In Slovenia, since early 19th century the Alpine peoples
have a traditional Family Presepio. In the living room of every
farmhouse there is a Holy Corner with a shelf on which, during the
year, the family Crucifix stands. At Christmas time the shelf is
covered with moss to make a hill with the town of Bethlehem on its
crest and the stable with the Nativity scene at its foot. The scene
is held in place with a special decorated board about 70cm long
and 35cm high. It is thought that initially this was simply a woman's
headscarf or shawl, which was then later replaced with a richly
embroidered board. .
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Fides News
Fides
News 2004