Dozens of so-called 'living'
nativity scenes, featuring people dressed up in costumes rather
than statues, are helping to bring alive the Christmas spirit in
the central Italian region of Marche.
The love for these holy performances-historical re-enactments
is shown by the involvement of people of all ages at events in
old hamlets, parks and archaeological sites.
They mostly take place between December 26 and January 6,
although some events are on other dates.
These community activities, which are linked to historical
re-enactments in the summer featuring jousts and processions,
attract large numbers of visitors every year.
Each province has a number of living nativity scenes
recreating parts of the scripture or the gospel or showing the
daily lives of yesteryear and old crafts.
The living nativity in Genga, near Ancona, is the biggest in
the world: set at the Gola di Frasassi, it develops over an area
of 30,000 square metres, like a theatre show in installments,
along a path carved into rock and lit up by the natural cave of
the Frasassi Sanctuary and the Valadier temple.
Around 300 people recreate old professions and crafts, along
with the court of Herod, the humility of the nativity scene and
the arrival of the three wise men as portrayed in the work of
Gentile da Fabriano.
It is necessary to pay to see it and the money collected goes
to charity.
The Precicchie living nativity, which sees Fabriano castle
near Ancona transformed into a little Marche Bethlehem, is much
smaller, but it is also extremely charming.
The scenes of the nativity and ancient crafts at
Sassoferrato (province of Ancona) are set in the Coldellanoce
area at the feet of Mt Gallo.
The event at Barbara (province of Ancona) is set up like a
theatre show, with a part that is acted out, and then visitors
can visit the local park with scenes showing crafts and moments
of daily life from the past.
The living nativity at Piobbico, in the province of Pesaro
Urbino, is set up in the Medieval hamlet and at Mondolfo's
Castello Brancaleoni the event involves the whole of one of
Italy's most beautiful small towns.
The Le Terre del Catria area recreates the nativity at
Paravento di Cagli, with a sort of Christmas full immersion
featuring food cooked by people in costume at restaurants.
'Life is a gift', meanwhile, is the theme of the living
nativity at Selva di Potenza Piena, with around 250 people in
costume taking part.
The living nativity at Vlla Ficana in Macerata is set in a
traditional village made up of clay homes.
There are a multitude of living nativities in the province of
Fermo.
The biggest takes place at the Falerone archaeological site,
with 350 people in costume spread out over an itinerary that is
2km long, featuring camps, markets and inns.
The historical town centre of Altidona acts as the backdrop
to a living nativity featuring 200 actors.
Marche's oldest living nativity, at Comunanza (province of
Ascoli Piceno), celebrates its 40th birthday this year: visitors
can walk around the crowd coming for the census, markets,
military camps and experience the trip of the three kings,
including deserts and dunes recreated with video projections, at
the Rimembranza.
The living nativity scenes at Numana and Grottammare are set
beside the sea.
There are also many traditional artisan nativity scenes in
Marche - at Fano (the San Marco one features over 500 statues
and mechanical effects), Loreto, Cingoli, Jesi and Serra San
Quirico, where over 100 creche are on display along with the
living nativity, to name just a few.
Nativity scenes are spread out along with streets of the
historical centre of Urbino in shop windows, churches and
buildings, including Palazzo Odasi, Palazzo Comunale, Sala
Vecchiotti and Palazzo Ubaldini-Boghi.
It is possible to admire the life-size plaster Brandani
nativity at the Oratorio di San Giuseppe.
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