A REAL LIVING CHRISTMAS CRIB When we think about a living Christmas crib, we think about a group of people who, like our home's statues into the mangers, reenact Christ's Nativity. This was the beginning of a similar reenacting also in Zavattarello, but here the reenactors decided to follow an unusual way: the animation.
Every scene, which is part of a trip to Christ's manger, is a living reproduction of the life in the past centuries, of the activities that in the past were usual. The inhabitants of Zavattarello reenacts the daily life of their ancestors which seems contemporary activities, never disappeared or changed: the blacksmith with his hammer, the carpenter sawing, the baker cooking bread, the fisher hoisting his nets, the shoemaker sticking a sole, the priest screaming, the governor administrating justice, the lavenders cleaning tissues, the spinners weaving wool, the shepherds making cheese...
This is the particularity of our living Christmas crib, which animates Christmas with real past life, with the visitors feeling real part of this ancient world that is still near our hearts: everyone can eat handmade bread, drink local wine, touch the wool weaved from the sheeps, give the way to the Roman soldiers. You'll feel into the past, but not being only a spectator: you will feel a participant of it.
A SUGGESTIVE ANCIENT FRAME The medieval village under the Dal Verme Castle is the scene for these activities, which take place in their traditional spots: this is another reason that facilitates the return to the past and the full identification in it.
The scenes take place in their best seat, between the roads and houses of a XIII century's village which preserves his medieval aspect, with winding roads and stone houses. The houses' proprietors open them to the reenactors and visitors so you can see that few of the original appearance changed.
THE MEMORIES' MUSEUM Not only ancient costumes, not only places full of history, but also tools and furniture from the past: Bruni Virgilio with his Memorie's Museum gives his objects to realize the scenes, to make the representation more real. All the tools come back to a new life, used by able people who bring them back to their activity: every work finds his original instruments, still working. This is another important aspect of the life of this living Christmas crib. Click here to know more about the museum.
THE INHABITANTS' PASSION Without the inhabitants' passion and satisfaction all this wouldn't have been realized: not only reenactors, but also dressmakers, houses owners, sheperds, the Church, the Municipality, the Memories' Museum and the hundreds of people coming every year to see the reenacting, everyone contributing with his enthusiasm to the desire to continue this event and increase it more and more.
Our hope is that this festive event will continue every year as a moment of celebration and reunion, of joy and participation. Everyone can feel friendship and brotherhood, a magic atmosphere out of time.
Every year in Zavattarello
24th december from 9.30 pm to 11.30 pm
26th december from 4.30 pm to 6.30 pm
