Norwich, UK
Setting up a nativity scene is one of the most popular methods of celebrating the Christmas story. In Bishop Auckland, in County Durham, northern England, a large Neapolitan-style Christmas scene is giving visitors a totally new experience.
“Our visitors have been overwhelmed by the intricate detail and mesmerising composition of the Neapolitan nativity,” Catherine Hodgson, of The Auckland Project, told Sight. “Children in particular seem to be captivated by the characterful figures – there are over 400 individual characters, including a menagerie of animals. The nativity is on display until 31st December and will become a much loved feature of our annual Christmas events program.”
A village scene in the precepe on display in Bishop Auckland. PICTURE: Courtesy of The Auckland Project.
This amazing nativity scene is displayed in a new Faith Gallery, part of a Faith Museum which is due to open next autumn within the former bishops palace at Bishop Auckland. The nativity scene, known as ‘precepi’, was acquired in October, 2022, from a private collection in Italy for the Bishop Auckland Collections Trust.
Measuring more than 3.5 metres wide, the scene was made in Naples during the 18th century and is the only one of its kind in the UK. It contains a vast array of secular as well as religious figures. In addition to the Holy Family and angels, there are travellers, farmers, bawdy street sellers, raucous musicians and boisterous children. A man is shown asleep resting his head on a sack in a corner with a goat curled up beside him, while elsewhere a female character holds some embroidery work. A cat explores a basket. All these characters that are shown in action, undertaking tasks around the village, chatting with friends, out on the mountain, in grottos and caves.
The concept of ‘presepe’ dates back to the 18th century, when the idea of a nativity scene moved from churches into aristocratic homes. The scenes became extremely complex, combining all aspects of life. A special category of artisans, the figurati, developed in Naples, which has since become the centre of the presepe industry.
Via San Gregorio in Naples is famous for its presepe shops containing thousands of hand made presepe figurines priced at anything from a few to thousands of dollars. On sale are countless prescepe plus thousands of figures and accessories such as trees, buildings, grottos, barns, stables, baskets of fruit, furniture, oxen, donkeys, dogs and carts.
The Bishop Auckland precepe on display for the first time in the new Faith Gallery. PICTURE: Courtesy of The Auckland Project.
Over the years, the figurines have expanded to reflect changes in culture. Traditional villagers such as butchers, farmers, bakers, shepherds, fishermen are now joined by figurines of sports stars, actors and even politicians. It is a way of stressing that the nativity is relevant to everyone, and is totally inclusive.
Quite apart from the popularity of Via San Gregorio with tourists, precepe have become a tourist attraction as worldwide interest in Neapolitan nativities has been steadily increasing. Many museums contain historic examples, such as 1879 Presepe Cucinello held within the Museo Nazionale di San Martino in Naples. The Cucinello contains 170 characters, 80 animals, 30 angles and over 400 miniature objects.
More recently, the town of Manarola, 640 kilometres to the north of Naples, has become host to a unique presepe designed and hand built by Mario Andreoli over a 30 year period. Covering an entire hillside, it contains 300 full scale figures, 15,000 miniature fires and 9.5 kilometres of electric cables allowing it to be lit up by phovoltaic lights. This presepe is now listed in the Guinness World Records as being the largest in the world. Illuminated every night from December to early February, it attracts thousands of visitors.
