Larger than life-sized Christmas crib

In 1988, a young group of artisans of Santa Cristina brought into being an initiative that was originally aimed at promoting handicrafts and make the sculptor profession more famous. The first sculpture this group manufactured was a larger than life-sized sower of Swiss pine. Afterwards the group of 18 sculptures had the idea to create a larger than life-sized Christmas crib. The Blessed Mother with Child was the first to be carved. It was arranged in the Advent period to follow in the church and conveyed a solemn feeling.

By degrees, in the workshops and in the frame of various open air wood carving presentations, also St Joseph, the Three Kings, a shepherd, a donkey, a camel and three sheep were created. Again and again, the sculptors met to discuss new figures. From this angle, this project was a social and cultural contribution to village life. And of course an outstanding artistic project.

For the year 2000, the artisans have achieved their goal and the more than life-sized crib figurines are exhibited in the Sports Centre Iman in the village centre, strictly speaking in a wooden stable. But the Christmas crib is constantly being enlarged. By the way, this crib is one of the largest carved all over the world!