You
might catch a glimpse of the group
of costumed characters during the Christmas Day concert from Vatican.
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| Claudio the giornalaio played the part of governor |
Over the past decades this live Christmas scene
has become a tradition and part of the
town’s folklore. Everyone has at least
one family member who has
played a part in the Christmas story.
Giacomo, my computer guy, was baby Jesus
during the first edition and Paolo, who played a Cardinal last year has moved
up to become San Giuseppe this
year.
Young girls
work their way up from “extras” in the market scene to washer women with
only a few lucky ones selected
at age 16-17 to play the
part of Madonna-of-the-year.
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| Paola heads the group at the bakery |
For city dwellers, a trip to view one of these
country Presepi Viventi, is an excellent antidote to commercialism which often blights the holidays.
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| waiting to enter the Presepe Vivente |
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| residents become actors |
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| offering bruschetta to visitors |
Foreign visitors delight in this plunge into the past for it satisfies the
romantic vision of Italian lifestyle.
Local people are pleasantly
surprised as they see the well preserved medieval quarters of their town, for the first time, in a different light.
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| Susanna and Lucilla as 18th century ladies |
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| gardens of Palazzo Piatti are a backdrop to the Nativity scene |
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| Via Vecchia |
The audience participates in the
Christmas story as they walk through the different scenes some designed like Roessler Franz paintings: the wash-house, the market, artisan’s
workshops, the osteria, the
schoolhouse.
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| Giulia was Madonna a few years ago |
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| Mary and Joseph , 2012 in church of S. Maria del Riscatto |
Here shepherds prepare ricotta over an open
fire and offer children a chance to pat
the lambs and taste a slice of bruschetta doused with the areas’s famous extra virgin olive oil.
 |
| little carpenters |
By retelling the Christmas story using the townspeople as
actors, plus lights and music, the organizers have created an historical “Sound
and Light” show that is a continuation
of those miracle and mystery plays used to explain the Bible in medieval times.
For a full list of the Christmas presepi viventi in the area check the Provincia's website
