Nativity Scene & Christmas
The end of the year is approaching, the days are getting shorter, the temperature is lower and we are slowly approaching the biggest celebration of the year: Christmas! For many people, it also means that the nativity scene can be brought out again.
Trend: the modern nativity set
Of course, we at IKONIC are very proud of the nativity scene that Floris Hovers designed for us. This nativity scene has been in the collection for several years, and every year more people discover this special set. You probably know the nativity scene mainly as an exuberant and busy whole, often more kitsch than art. Not exactly something you would put in your carefully composed, modern interior.
Fortunately, there has been more and more choice in terms of design in recent years. In addition to our well-known modern nativity scene by Floris Hovers, there are more manufacturers that offer modern 'design' nativity scenes. Finally a nativity scene that also fits in your interior! For example, Alessi has a beautiful metal nativity scene, designed by Michel Boucquillon and Donia Maaoui. Perhaps you know the funny nativity scene by Dick Bruna, or the cardboard nativity scene (also for coloring!) by Meli Kuhn for Dutch Design Brand. Also special is the nativity scene by Unoferrum, where a tealight projects the nativity scene as a shadow play.
Christmas, the nativity scene, a cave and the Bible
Remarkably enough, the Bible itself does not mention a stable at all. The birth of Jesus is of course mentioned in two gospels; Luke and Matthew. In the book of Luke, the manger is mentioned as a cradle for Jesus. This is why it has been assumed that the scene took place in a stable. Joseph and the pregnant Mary had traveled to Bethlehem because of a census ordered by the Roman Emperor Augustus.
According to Saint Justin, a Christian philosopher from the second century, Jesus was born in a cave. This 'birth cave' in Bethlehem is still an important place of pilgrimage for Christians.
The presence of the ox and the donkey in the stable also does not appear in the original Christmas story. The ox and the donkey were later placed in the stable because of the sentence from the Old Testament (Isaiah 1:3) where the prophet Isaiah says: ‘An ox knows its owner, an ass its master’s crib; but Israel knows nothing, my people do not understand.’ According to Origen (third century AD), the ox and the donkey symbolize all people: the ox (a clean animal in Jewish tradition) symbolizes the church of the Jews, the unclean donkey represents the church of the Gentiles.
The shepherds with their sheep are based on the gospel, as are the ‘wise men from the east’ found in the books of Epiphany, Isaiah and Matthew.
However, the number of wise men is not mentioned in the gospel. The number three may have arisen because three gifts were offered: frankincense, myrrh and gold. Later, the ‘three kings’ were also seen as representatives of three continents: Asia, Africa and Europe. That is why the wise men are sometimes depicted in images as brown, black and white.
Where does the tradition of the nativity scene actually come from?
The nativity scene was probably introduced in 1223 by Saint Francis of Assisi, founder of the Order of the Franciscans. He received permission from Pope Honorius to depict the Christmas scene with living people. In the forest near Greccio he built a stable where Holy Mass was celebrated on Christmas Eve. The Franciscans subsequently spread the concept of the nativity scene widely.
The nativity scene, the ‘presepio’, is still very popular, especially in Italy. Nativity scenes and figures in all shapes and sizes are available at the annual Christmas market on Piazza Navona in Rome. At the initiative of Pope John Paul II, a life-size nativity scene has been on St. Peter's Square every year since 1982.
Setting up a nativity scene
Do you also want to get started with the nativity scene? The IKONIC nativity scene is one of the few modern-abstract nativity scenes that fits into your modern interior. It is made of FSC beech wood and the lacquer finish is super nice. Take the nativity scene out of the packaging (keep the sleeve) and put it in a place where it will look great.
If you really want to do it right, only put the baby in the manger on Christmas night, the wise men should be moved a little bit towards the manger every day.
Super practical: afterwards you can put everything back neatly in the stable, which also serves as a storage box, to put it back up again next year!
