Life-size ceramic statues have a cultural heritage that is not immediately apparent, adding to the excitement and anticipation they bring when describing the birth story of the baby Jesus.
Written by Francesca Merlo
The gigantic porcelain sculptures that were burned in St. Peter’s Square on Friday, December 11, are there to represent and illuminate the story of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, reflecting the anticipation that He will come. Pope Francis noted in his Angels on Sunday, at the center of the Christian story, that the anticipation we feel throughout the visit is a joy. Bringing the crib in St. Peter’s Square is precisely this joy. But this particular Nativity scene tells another story: something not captured with a single look.
This hidden story itself may have caused criticism from some observers who responded negatively to what they considered to be a representation of Jesus’ birth, which is very different from the more traditional ones.
Statues
The contemporary Nativity scene, in fact, is a bit different. The Nativity scene, made up of a small part of a collection of 52 pieces, is made of life-size porcelain figurines, made in the usual style of Castelli in Italy, and is internationally renowned for its ceramic artwork. 1965 to 1975 – City FA It took the Crew Art Institute students and faculty ten years to create and complete the entire collection.
Nativity scene from Castelli in St. Peter’s Square
What some have described as a “person like an astronaut” raises a number of questions because it is not clear who or what it means.
Room for everyone
In his letter, Admirable signal, Signed in December 2019, Pope Francis wrote, “It is customary to add many symbolic figures to our Nativity scenes” and on top of this “Children – but adults too!” They want to add other figures to the Nativity scene that have no apparent connection with the gospel details. However, these imaginary additions show that each has its own way, in the new world opened by Jesus, for real humans and all of God’s creatures. ”
The opening of the Nativity scene took place with a Christmas tree, spruce, one of Slovenia’s best protected forests, with people defined by the corona virus infection. For this reason, Pope Francis said that “symbols of Christmas” are now, more than ever, “a sign of hope for the people of Rome and for the pilgrims who have the opportunity to honor them.”
Christmas tree and Nativity display lights in St. Peter’s Square