An invitation came from Giovanni and his wife Carolina to go with them to the Presepe Vivente in Marcellano - altogether on a bigger scale than the one in Compignano (see previous post presepe vivente Compignano). And so it was that we drove around 40 minutes on a very, very cold night, the 4 of us...90% of the talking at least was in Italian as well, which was a real pleasure.
The village was fully set up for some significant numbers - amazing for a small borgo, but then, it is very well known, they even arrange coach trips - and then we were directed towards the absolutely beautiful town - and an even more beautiful tumbler of mulled wine (called Vin Brûlé) in a terracotta beaker. We walked around the town, with series of living tableaux of the local trades - fabulously done - and then at around 6pm, the big event. The Nativity recreation.
Of course it started with Mary and Joseph walking through the town with a donkey, in search of somewhere to stay. This was alas the best picture that I took..but you can see the atmosphere, and the huge stream of people walking behind.
They then walked down from the village to a small stable in an adjacent field below the village walls, about 50 metres down. Then the birth of Jesus amongst the cattle (I cannot say if they were lowing, it was a long way away..) and the angel Gabriel appearing above the stable..then the heavenly hosts in the next field, with fires...and then a bright star descended gently from the church towards the stable - with 3 wise men (or i Re Magi, the 3 kings..) on horseback, following the star. They arrive and pay homage...and then the people are let in to pay their respects. A truly wonderful spectacle, a recreation of the bible story.
We repaired back to the Vin Brûlé stall where we met a local who was born in Marcellano but to Australian parents - had a lovely chat in Italian and English - and as so people many had decided to head for home, on account of the cold wind, the servers brought jugs and jugs of the mulled wine, to keep us going, and I nipped to the Fornace and picked up some Rosemary and Garlic focaccia. Altogether lovely.
I only wish it wasn't so bl***y cold!
The village was fully set up for some significant numbers - amazing for a small borgo, but then, it is very well known, they even arrange coach trips - and then we were directed towards the absolutely beautiful town - and an even more beautiful tumbler of mulled wine (called Vin Brûlé) in a terracotta beaker. We walked around the town, with series of living tableaux of the local trades - fabulously done - and then at around 6pm, the big event. The Nativity recreation.
Of course it started with Mary and Joseph walking through the town with a donkey, in search of somewhere to stay. This was alas the best picture that I took..but you can see the atmosphere, and the huge stream of people walking behind.
They then walked down from the village to a small stable in an adjacent field below the village walls, about 50 metres down. Then the birth of Jesus amongst the cattle (I cannot say if they were lowing, it was a long way away..) and the angel Gabriel appearing above the stable..then the heavenly hosts in the next field, with fires...and then a bright star descended gently from the church towards the stable - with 3 wise men (or i Re Magi, the 3 kings..) on horseback, following the star. They arrive and pay homage...and then the people are let in to pay their respects. A truly wonderful spectacle, a recreation of the bible story.
We repaired back to the Vin Brûlé stall where we met a local who was born in Marcellano but to Australian parents - had a lovely chat in Italian and English - and as so people many had decided to head for home, on account of the cold wind, the servers brought jugs and jugs of the mulled wine, to keep us going, and I nipped to the Fornace and picked up some Rosemary and Garlic focaccia. Altogether lovely.
I only wish it wasn't so bl***y cold!
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