In Provence, the tradition to make the crib seems still so long-lived nowadays that one can without sorrow imagine that this practice goes up bottom of the ages.
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That is almost the case since the first representations of the nativity appear in Arles on lids of sarcophagi paléochrétiens as of IIIème century of our era... |
To increase
Tassy, Joseph (17..-1... ; painter)
Titrate [Arles. Les Aliscamps]
Publication 1797
Titrate [Arles. Les Aliscamps]
Publication 1797
National library of France
As of Xllème century, one finds many representations carved of the nativity, but also of the ass, ox and of three Kings Mages. It is in Rome, that this form of religious iconography occurred consisting in representing the witnesses of the birth of Jesus. They were made of clay dried and painted to the hand, or of paperboard, boiled paper and sticks.
The first true cribs of Church will appear as for them in a usual way only at the sixteenth century.
One allots to Saint-François d' Assise, who into 1223 wished to realize of the destitution of the birth of Jesus, to have for the first time put in scene the nativity of Christ by mixing alive characters and figurines. Provençaux accept of as much better this version than the mother of Saint-François d' Assise was originating in Tarascon, and than consequently it influenced certainly her son by taking example on the " Pastrages " which were held at the time of the midnight mass and which was representations of the Nativity played by shepherds.
CHRISTMAS of ST. FRANCOIS D'ASSISE
..."François obtained from the pope Honorius III, the right to celebrate Christmas with a particular glare and according to his personal ideas. He chooses Greccio because the lord of the place, Giovanni di Velita, " whom attached less importance to the nobility of blood than to that of the heart ", had made gift with François of the covered wood mountain which dominated the rocky outcrop of its village and the valley of Rieti to the bluish mounts extending to the horizon. On a balance of the stone wall, François had based a small hermitage, using as usual one of the caves which nature offered to him. It was transformed into vault. On his request, one installed there a manger liberally equipped with straw. An ox and an ass, witnesses required by the tradition followed. In the heart of the night, the torches ignited and the population of surrounding went up on all sides through the trees, torch with the fist, so that the mountain lanes palpitated like brooks of light. A priest had come to say the mass which was celebrated on the manger become crib, the " presepio " expensive with the Italians, and it was François covered of dalmatic with deacon who lute the Gospel of the Nativity. The crowd filled with wonder by this rediscovery at the great mystery followed with attention the least details of the ceremony and much believed to see François holding in her arms the bathed Child of rays. The faith of the Average Age, more close to childhood, that there ours, translated instinct by visions the truths to be believed which spoke better in its heart. That night was of an exceptional softness which was never forgotten. In wood, the brothers sang, and the lights shone gently a little everywhere like joining this explosion unexpected joy and answering the obscure clearness of the sky. It was our midnight mass, the first, full with this poetry that only Assise François could find."...
(Julien Green - Brother François)
If this episode is difficult to check, it is sure on the other hand that the first cribs of church from Italy.
Under Terror (1793), the cribs of church are removed.
To perpetuate this habit, the private cribs multiply in the hearths.
| Jean-Louis Lagnel who lived in Marseilles (1764-1822), has the idea to manufacture cheap terra cotta figurines to place them in the private cribs. |  |
The crib of Provence such as we know it today was revealed and adopted by the public at the time of the first fair with let us santons, in Marseilles, on the course Saint Louis, in 1803. Coloured and typical, Santons represent the traditionally religious subjects, but also all the principal provençaux trades. These small characters will obtain a striking down success which lasts still nowadays.
Fair with let us santons in top of Canebière.
Santonier "Beaumond"
Santonier "Beaumond"
Thus the Brigand, Margarido, the miller, the gipsy, the blind man, the Delighted one and other Pistachié appear today in with dimensions of Jesus, Marie, Joseph and of three Kings Mages in each crib of Provence.
