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The custom of the Maronite manger at Christmas – The story behind the statues

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Το Εθιμο τησ φα&tau ;νης των Μαρωνιτоν τα Χριστοyγε&nu

A special and at the same time beautiful way is found by the Maronites every year at such a time, in view of the great celebration of Christmas, by decorating, in addition to Christmas trees, impressive mangers, which manage to magnetize the eyes, as they figure in them imposing statuettes, which as is known&nbsp ; naturally also dominate within the Catholic churches. 

As every year, this year as well, the manger has already been decorated in the occupied Kormakitis, where most Maronites live, compared to the other three Maronite villages, Asomatos, Karpasia and Agia Marina. Thus, in view of the great celebration of Christianity, the famous manger of Christos was decorated in the central square of the village, in front of the church of Agios Georgios.A manger, which is made with the help of Franciscan nuns who live in the monastery of Kormakitis and combined with the big Christmas tree, adorn the square of the emblematic church in the village of the Maronites. Christmas lanterns, wreaths and ornaments, give a different look to every festive season, which for the Maronites, is something special, since the custom of the manger is not only modern, but on the contrary thousands of years old. 

Το Εθιμο της φàτν ης των Μαρωνιτоν τα Χριστούγενν α-Η ιστορiα πiσω απo τα αγαλματα

Το Εθιμο της φατν ης των Μαρωνιτоν τα Χριστούγενν α-Η ιστορiα πiσω απo τα αγαλματα

Going back in time, the creation of the manger is a Catholic Church custom that has its roots in the base of Catholicism in Italy. Specifically, the need to create the manger seems to have arisen from the fact that most people were then illiterate and unable to read and understand the Gospel. Thus, a first simple representation of the birth of Christ was created, which we see evolve over the years.

In fact, historically, the first manger was set up in 1223 in the city of Greccio, Italy by Saint Francis of Assisi, with the ultimate goal of making the Divine Liturgy more dramatic and making the villagers feel more like Christmas. So, Saint Francis, put inside the cave where he worked, a manger and two live animals, a donkey and a cow. Similar representations were repeated afterwards, while over the years, people and animals were replaced with figures in relief.

Then, the development of the arts and especially sculpture led to the creation of three-dimensional statues to which more and more details are added and which bring to life the unique moment of the Birth of the God-man. Inside the manger, the Virgin Mary, Joseph and the infant child are shown, who may be flanked by shepherds, magicians, angels and animals. All the figures, in fact, are designed with details in features and clothing.

According to historical facts, the year 1734 is considered a decisive year for the development of the manger, the year in which Charles the Third became king of Naples, Italy. Charles spent a great deal of time and money building the royal manger, which the wealthiest families in the city emulated as they attempted to build equally impressive mangers in their own homes. After that particular year, Naples became the most important manger-making center in Europe.

Το Εθιμο τησ φατν ης των Μαρωνιτоν τα Χριστούγενν α-Η ιστορiα πiσω απo τα αγαλματα

So, in an identical way, the decoration of the manger by the Maronites in Cyprus, which represents the birth of Christ, with various impressive and three-dimensional statues in the manger. 

According to history, the creation of the Christmas nativity scene takes place a few days after the beginning of Christmas Eve, with the nuns preparing the nativity scene inside the great church of Kormakitis. In fact, all the statues and materials used for the representation are from the hands of the nuns and what the sisters manage to create, is through their own hands. 

It is noted that during Christmas, the statues of the three magi are missing from the manger, which are added on New Year's after the magi, as the story says, arrived at the cave where Christ was born. 

Το Εθιμο της φατν ης των Μαρωνιτоν τα Χριστούγενν α-Η ιστορiα πiσω απo τα αγαλματα

Το Εθιμο τ&eta ;ς φατνης των Μαρωνιτоν τα Χριστ&omicron ;yγεννα-Η ιστορiα πiσω απo τα αγαλμ&alpha ;τα

Το εθιμο τη&sigma ; φΑτνης των Μαρωνιτоν τα ΧριστοΙ&gamma ;εννα-Η ιστορiα πiσω απo τα αγαλμα&tau ;α

Nativity scenes in European cities

Immense nativity scenes also dominate in large European cities, such as the Vatican in Rome, where the largest nativity scene in all of Europe is being erected, since it is in the main seat of the Catholics.&nbsp ;

Also, in Paris and specifically at Notre-Dame de Paris, millions of believers rush to see both the largest Christmas tree in Paris and to admire the nativity scene that is set up every year there and is considered the most impressive in the city.

< p>Also, in Germany, the traditional wooden nativity scene is featured, where more emphasis is placed on the Christmas decoration of the houses. In addition, in Lebanon, special emphasis is placed on the nativity scene rather than the Christmas tree, since two weeks before Christmas they plant chickpea, bean and lentil seeds in cotton balls and decorate their nativity scenes with the sprouts that come out, with people rushing every time to meet her up close to be thousands.

Το Εθ ιμο της φατνης των Μαρωνιτoν τα Χ ριστοyγεννα-Η ιστορiα πiσω απo τα αγλματα

Το Εθιμο της φατν ης των Μαρωνιτоν τα Χριστούγενν α-Η ιστορiα πiσω απo τα αγαλματα

Το Εθιμο τησ φατν ης των Μαρωνιτоν τα Χριστούγενν α-Η ιστορiα πiσω απo τα αγαλματα

Το εθιμο τ&eta ;ς φατνης των Μαρωνιτоν τα Χριστ&omicron ;yγεννα-Η ιστορiα πiσω απo τα αγαλμ&alpha ;τα

* With information from “The Press of the Maronites”

Source: www.reporter.com.cy

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