Christmas without a crib: this is unthinkable for many people.
The scenic depiction of the birth of Jesus simply belongs to the steady time.
There is no shortage of a wide variety of Christmas crib creations.
The "Kripperlweg" in Lenggries also offers this year an insight into the fascinating world of Christmas cribs and their stories.
Lenggries "There will be a total of 24 stations this year", explains Ursula Dinter-Adolf, the head of the tourist information in Lenggries.
"From November 27th to January 6th, visitors can marvel at them, especially in the shop windows in Lenggries." Various biblical scenes from the Christmas story are to be depicted here.
The exact route can be found in a flyer.
This is available at the Lenggries Tourist Information Office and in the participating shops.
From the sheepfold to the three kings
Georg Willibald is also there again.
The local craftsman has already embellished many nativity scenes on the “Kripperlweg” last year with 130 lovingly carved figures.
“This year he even expanded his repertoire,” says Dinter-Adolf.
“At 40 centimeters, the figures are slightly larger than the previous ones and also have flexible joints.” They were also dressed, among other things with a self-knitted jacket.
The handmade nativity figurines by Georg Willibald are to be exhibited in “Sepp's Müsikwerkstatt” and in “Herb shop Lenggries”.
But there will also be many other cribs to marvel at this year.
For example, a manger stables carved out of a tree trunk that is around 80 years old.
At a total of 24 stations - like an Advent calendar - there are lovingly designed details to discover in every nativity scene on the circular route: Here a cheeky goat has climbed onto the roof of the wagon, in other places ducks waddle along the village stream, or shepherds warm themselves with their dogs and sheep by the campfire on.
Great variety: more than centenarian figures and simple, modern variants
Sometimes the crib figures are wrapped in colorful, oriental robes, sometimes they wear elaborately tailored and knitted traditional costumes or are individually painted.
The spectrum of varied representations ranges from figures that are more than a hundred years old to simple, modern versions by contemporary artists.
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A goat on the car roof: loving detail of the old Bavarian crib in the Bammer shoe store in Lenggries.
© Private
A highlight of the “Lenggrieser Kripperlweg”, which begins punctually for the first weekend in Advent, can again be seen in the baroque parish church of St. Jakob.
Here in the “Dom des Isarwinkel” visitors can admire an oriental nativity scene with historical figures.
Another detail that the attentive audience will certainly not miss: some of the stations will only be added or rebuilt over time, just as the Christmas story dictates.
The shepherds, who tend their sheep, appear from the middle of December on the Annunciation Angel and the ox and donkey will be joined by the Holy Family with the baby Jesus on December 23rd.
Kripperlweg has a pandemic-friendly concept
Visitors can expect a lot of love and attention to detail on their tour.
The tourist information office hopes to attract numerous visitors again.
“The exhibition was well attended last year,” says Dinter-Adolf.
“That's why we expect it to attract visitors this year as well.” The exhibition inherently has a concept suitable for pandemics.
"The cribs are protected from wind and weather and visitors can marvel at them in the fresh air and from a distance." So ideal for 2020.
The “Kripperlweg” will take place in any case, even if the state measures to combat the corona pandemic are tightened.
You can read more news from Lenggries here.
"There should be a small reward for the efforts of the exhibitors", reveals Dinter-Adolf, "The most natural, the most original and the most beautiful crib will be chosen." In the second week of December, the prizes will be presented to the winners .
"It should be a small thank you for their effort," said Dinter-Adolf.
But profit or not, a look into the colorful world of the window cribs is always worthwhile.
(Anna Nagy)
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