As we arrived in Poland few days ago to join my family for Christmas time, we cannot resist visiting traditional polish Christmas CRECHES. There are exposed everywhere in the city, in the Churches, in the Christmas markets, into the Old Towns boulevards and even in the city malls.
But the most famous and known city in Poland for the creches is Krakow (Cracow). The beginning of December each year sees the transformation of Rynek G?ówny (Main Market Square) in Krakow, into a beautiful Christmas market. Arts and crafts, ceramics, sweets and more are put up for sale. Excellent food in the form of grilled oscypek cheese and Polish wine are available too.
A nativity scene made by Krakow kindergarden children. (Photo: AFP/Pawel Ulatowski)
The szopka, a creche competition, is of course the major event. For generations, competitions for the best nativity scene have drawn artists to the southern Polish city.
Krakow’s famous ‘szopka’ – pronounced ‘shopka’ – Christmas creches are portable theaters for traditional puppet Nativity plays. The ornate structures can be two meters high and three meters wide. Those colorful, ingenious, richly decorated and brightly illuminated extravaganzas take fantastic shapes inspired by Krakow’s architectural marvels, the bizarre spires of the church of Virgin Mary’s in the first place.
The Christmas cribs are made entirely by hand, ranging from a glittering rainbow of colored aluminum foil to wood, cardboard, lace and, in a sign of the times, eco-friendly materials like beans, dried orange slices and bay leaves as well as digital animations.
This year is a special one for funs of creches, because Krakow was granted UNESCO special status last November, being added to its register of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
This UNESCO announcement is a special moment for anyone whose heart is set on caring for Polish heritage.
Polish born pope John Paul II, recently declared a saint, is regularly featured. (Photo: AFP/Pawel Ulatowski)
