Exhibition of Provençal Nativity Figures at the University of Bamberg

A small exhibition at the University of Bamberg presents various nativity scenes

Nativity scenes are translations of the biblical Christmas story into pictures. They can include only the Holy Family with ox and donkey, or they can show further figures and scenes, such as the Adoration of the Wise Men or the flight to Egypt of the Holy Family. For a long time, nativity scenes were only set up in churches - initially encouraged by the Jesuits. In the Baroque period in particular, they became more and more elaborate and magnificent. A church reform in the late 18th century wanted to put a stop to this and banned the setting up of nativity scenes in churches. The faithful citizens reacted by giving the nativity scenes asylum in their own homes. The ban was therefore elegantly sidestepped and lifted again only 20 years later. At the beginning of the 19th century, the magnificent nativity scenes returned to the churches. But in the meantime, people had become accustomed to the nativity scenes at home and created their own, usually simpler ones made of less precious materials, but in a lavish variety. The domestic tradition remained: to this day, nativity scenes are an integral part of church and domestic Christmas celebrations.

The scientific research of European Ethnology examines everyday culture in history and the present, including material goods such as nativity scenes and behaviors such as setting up nativity scenes as a cultural practice in families.
A small exhibition at the University of Bamberg presents various nativity scenes, e.g. a Playmobil nativity scene that can be constantly rebuilt, a Mexican nativity scene in a matchbox, the Holy Family in a walnut shell, a miniature wooden nativity scene, a Bauhaus nativity scene, a colored copperplate engraving with Saint Francis of Assisi and a Krakow Szopka made of tin foil.