Nativity scene depicts life on the Czech-Slovak border
Nativity scenes celebrating the birth of Baby Jesus have a long tradition in the Czech lands, dating back to 1560, when the first such scene was introduced here by the Jesuits at their college, the Clementinum. Many of the present day nativity scenes take years to make and depict real-life figures and buildings.
Nativity scenes are known as “betlémy” in Czech – a name derived from Christ’s birthplace, Bethlehem – and in this country they remain one time the most widespread symbols of Christmas.
Almost every family has one, large or small, made of paper, clay, wood or even corn husks. Some are handed down from generation to generation, giving them added value.
Most nativity scenes only have the central figures of the Christmas story – Baby Jesus in the manger, Mary, Joseph, shepherds and the three kings. However, to some of the bigger nativity scenes which are often put on display in museums or town halls their creators have added other figures drawn from their surroundings. Several such nativity scenes portray the real people in the village – like the postman, butcher, baker or local schoolteacher. These nativity scenes take years to make and evolve from one year to the next with villagers coming to admire the new additions.
One such amazing nativity scene is on show in Horní Lideč, a village of 1,300 inhabitants situated on the Moravian-Slovak border near Vsetín in the Zlín Region. Next to the church, in the local information centre people can admire a beautiful mechanical nativity scene that has replicas of significant buildings from the Zlín and Trenčín regions. The project was created in cooperation with the partner municipality Dohňany in Slovakia – and is the result of a joint effort by 15 Czech and Slovak wood carvers who took a year to create it. Local guide Lucie Manová points out its singularities.
“Visitors particularly like the moving figures, which represent traditional crafts. They can see carpenters, blacksmiths, wheelwrights, potters, farmers and weavers. There are whole scenes as well such as that depicting a pig saughter, a harvest festival and a village dance.”
There are almost three hundred wooden figures in the nativity scene, and seventy-five of them are in motion. Around it are forty important buildings from the Zlín and Trenčín regions. Visitors can get to know the ruins of Beckov, Hostýn, the spa house in Luhačovice, Velehrad or Trenčín Castle. The dominant feature of the area is, of course, the Holy Family – albeit situated in an unusual environment.
In order to give visitors more background information on what is happening in the nativity scene the local town hall had a short film made for the exhibition in Horní Lidec, which depicts everyday life on the Moravian-Slovak border and the region’s traditions.
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Czech Christmas
Radio Prague International has prepared a selection of articles on Christmas traditions for you.
