"Treasures from the depot" can be viewed for a short time in the Geretsrieder Heimatmuseum
Created: 2022-12-07Updated: 2022-12-07 5:14 p.m
By: Michaela Schubert
The Geretsried local history museum presents "Treasures from the depot".
You can admire the Grulich crib and exhibits from Transylvania on the topic of chandeliers - "The Lights".
© City of Geretsried
Geretsried - "Grulicher crib" and "The lights" (candelabra) are exhibits from the depot of the Geretsried local history museum.
Appropriate for the Christmas season, visitors have the opportunity to marvel at customs from Bohemia and Transylvania. Under the motto "Treasures from the depot", the Geretsrieder Heimatmuseum Friends' Association presents exotic exhibits for suitable occasions.
The treasures are not on display in the permanent exhibition in the Geretsried City Museum, but can only be viewed on special occasions.
The first is a so-called Grulich crib.
Sainon workers carved the cribs out of necessity
In today's Grulich, then Králiky (Czech Republic), it was forbidden by Emperor Jospeh II in Bohemia to set up Christmas cribs.
This motivated seasonal workers to sit behind the carving bench at home in winter and make the birth of Jesus in the Bethlehem stable themselves as a decoration.
“Out of this developed a remarkable wood carving for domestic use in the living rooms of the bourgeoisie, the craftsmen and farmers.
The figures were mostly painted by children and women,” explains Helmut Hahn, chairman of the Geretsrieder Heimatmuseum Friends Association.
The men are gift bringers for the baby Jesus
The "Grulicher Mannln" and the "Bringemannln" are known as gift bringers with symbolic gifts for the baby Jesus in the manger.
The figures, the "Mannl", are simply designed.
Using natural materials such as branches, paper, moss and fern, the crib builder has created a lively landscape.
The craft of Grulich nativity carving died out after industrialization in the 19th century.
"The exhibits of the lights let you participate in one of the most beautiful customs from Transylvania," Hahn continues.
Namely: the Christmas candlestick singing on Christmas Eve in the village churches.
Decorating the candlesticks is still a Catholic Christmas custom today.
"In honor of God, school children sing their candlestick song and enchant the churches on Christmas Eve with their decorated candlesticks."
