Krakow's Christmas Cribs
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Tuesday, 6 December 2011 | Cracow, Events, Gallery
The custom of buliding christmas cribs was initiated in Italy in the Middle Ages. Saint Francis of Assisi is considered to be the author of first „living” nativity scene in 1223. This practice of performing Jesus birth was brought to Poland by Franciscans. Here it took shape of puppet performances played on a specially prepared little stage. In Krakow we have the oldest collection of figurines from the XIII century which were used in nativity scenes in those days.
In XIX century, in winter, construction workers and masons, looking for extra income, started to create cribs and later, during Christmas they were performing as carolling troups in private houses. In Krakow crib makers incorporated to their designs architectural elements from city's most well-known monuments like St. Mary's Basilica, Wawel Castle or Sukiennice. Apart from Holy Family, shepards and angels they placed in szopkas local heroes both legendary like Wawel Dragon or Mr Twardowski and historical figures like Tadeusz Kościuszko, Maria Skłodowska-Curie or Pope John Paul II.
To support this tradition, since 1937 authorities of the city and Historical Museum of Krakow organize competition for the most beautiful Krakow's crib. It always takes place on first Thursday of December on the Main Market Square at the feet of Adam Mickiewicz's. Children are competing in separate category. After the award ceremony on Sunday all cribs are displayed in Krzysztofory Palace for next two months.
In XIX century, in winter, construction workers and masons, looking for extra income, started to create cribs and later, during Christmas they were performing as carolling troups in private houses. In Krakow crib makers incorporated to their designs architectural elements from city's most well-known monuments like St. Mary's Basilica, Wawel Castle or Sukiennice. Apart from Holy Family, shepards and angels they placed in szopkas local heroes both legendary like Wawel Dragon or Mr Twardowski and historical figures like Tadeusz Kościuszko, Maria Skłodowska-Curie or Pope John Paul II.
To support this tradition, since 1937 authorities of the city and Historical Museum of Krakow organize competition for the most beautiful Krakow's crib. It always takes place on first Thursday of December on the Main Market Square at the feet of Adam Mickiewicz's. Children are competing in separate category. After the award ceremony on Sunday all cribs are displayed in Krzysztofory Palace for next two months.
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