What does a nativity scene from Peru look like?
Visitors can see this from Sunday in the Protestant church in Walchensee.
Together with eleven other nativity scenes, it can be admired there for the first time.
Walchensee - The nativity scene exhibition in Walchensee will open this Sunday, November 28th, during the service at 11.15 a.m.
The Tölzer Kurier has delved deeper into the wonderful world of Christmas cribs and has talked to the organizer, the pediatrician Dr.
Andreas Schulze, spoken.
The 70-year-old is a nativity scene lover, a parishioner in the Protestant church and can occasionally be heard as an organist.
Mr. Schulze, what exactly can visitors to the exhibition see?
Dr. Andreas Schulze:
Twelve cribs of various origins, regions and styles can be viewed.
These include cribs from Upper Bavaria, but also, for example, from Latin America, Bohemia and Thuringia.
The Christmas crib from Peru is built in the form of a winged altar.
There are also two cribs for children.
One of them is made of Playmobil figures and another is made of wooden figures, depicted by a Berlin artist.
The offer for children is particularly important to me.
How did the idea for a Christmas crib exhibition come about?
Dr. Andreas Schulze:
So far there was a crib made of wax figures in our church, which unfortunately has some age-related damage.
The preservation of the nativity scene as folk art in churches and apartments at home is important to us.
This is how the idea for the current exhibition came about as a return to our history and our roots.
Christmas cribs can "tell the patient observer a lot"
What significance does a nativity scene still play for the population today?
Dr. Andreas Schulze:
Unfortunately, the general interest in the nativity scene has waned.
This is what some of the nativity groups I worked with for the exhibition told me.
Although Christmas cribs can tell so much to the patient beholder.
What do you mean?
Dr. Andreas Schulze:
The viewer doesn't read a story, he sees a three-dimensional image of a story that challenges his imagination.
In the past, it was especially intended to address people who could not read and for whom texts and songs in Latin were incomprehensible.
Many nativity scenes bring the Christmas story into the home environment.
The birth of Jesus in a rock grotto
What are the differences between a crèche from Bavaria and one from Latin America?
Dr. Andreas Schulze:
The different home surroundings and the different religious ideas are presented.
For example, cribs in Upper Bavaria mostly have an alpine environment.
In oriental nativity scenes, the birth of Jesus is often illustrated in a rock grotto.
Do you have a favorite nativity scene at the exhibition?
Dr. Andreas Schulze:
Yes, I think the wooden figures from Oberammergau, for example by the sculptors Klucker and Pfaffenzeller or the workshop of the Lang family, are particularly beautiful and individual.
How old is the oldest nativity scene in the exhibition?
Dr. Andreas Schulze:
I can't say exactly because most of the cribs on display are not dated.
I think the nativity scene from Bohemia is from the beginning of the 19th century and therefore the oldest.
Are all the cribs handmade?
Dr. Andreas Schulze:
Yes, they are all handmade and individual creations.
Except of course the Playmobil crib.
Some scenes will be redesigned for Christmas
Are the cribs arranged differently at Christmas?
Dr. Andreas Schulze:
Certain scenes, for example the birth of Jesus, are being redesigned.
Essentially, however, visitors see the same exhibition from the start.
Perhaps there will also be nativity scenes from Saxony and Thuringia.
Unfortunately, these could not yet be delivered due to Corona.
Which nursery do you have at home?
Dr. Andreas Schulze:
I have a small Christmas crib from Thuringia at home.
It is an older, Thuringian tradition to make figures out of paper mache and to paint them richly.
The exhibition:
can be viewed from this Sunday up to and including January 6, except Mondays, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The 3G regulation applies.
Admission is free, donations for the renovation of the church tower are requested.
(Stefanie Pfleger)
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