Christmas Cribs Come Alive in Mangalore

By John V Tauro
Bellevision Media Network

Mangalore, 24 Dec 2013: The annual Christmas season all over the world is marked by some common symbolic images, including the Star of Bethlehem, Santa Claus and the Christmas Crib, representing the birth of baby Jesus in a manger. 

According to Wikipedia, a nativity scene or crèche; also known as a manger scene, or crib is the special exhibition, particularly during the Christmas season, of art objects representing the scene of the birth of Jesus. While the term "nativity scene" may be used of any representation of the very common subject of the Nativity of Jesus in art, it has a more specialized sense referring to seasonal displays, either using model figures in a setting or enactments called "living nativity scenes" in which real humans and animals participate. Nativity scenes exhibit figures representing the infant Jesus, his mother Mary, and Joseph.

 

 

 

 Other characters from the nativity story such as shepherds and sheep, and angels may be displayed near the manger in a barn (or cave) intended to accommodate farm animals, as described in the gospels of Luke. A donkey and an ox are typically depicted in the scene, as well as the Magi and camels belonging to the Magi described in  Matthew. Several cultures add other characters and objects that may be Biblical or not.

In Mangalore, churches and homes host Christmas cribs with varying degrees of simplicity and creativity. Many prishes hold Christmas crib competitions. Economically priced Chinese decorative materials enhance visual presentation. While the ones on church campus are elaborate, because of space and resources available, there is variety and creativity in the home cribs as represented in photos alongside.