Fisherman's Nativity Scene
From Christmas in Sicily – Scuola G. Macherione di Giarra: http://www.sicilia.lafragola.kataweb.it/catania/medie/gmacherione-giarre/story480131.html
The nativity scene in Torre Archirafi
Children and adults eagerly await December 25th, the day on which the birth of Baby Jesus is celebrated. In my town, Torre Archirafi, we guys from Catholic Action start preparing for this celebration as early as mid-November. Our parish priest, Father Carmelo, shares his every idea with us and we kids are enthusiastic about it.
The nativity scene is a source of pride for our country. There are two of them. In the courtyard of the church, a large nativity scene almost on a human scale is being prepared. Work on the construction of the pieces begins as early as October. The manger is built inside the reconstruction of the famous tower of Torre Archirafi. On Christmas night, the little child will be placed on the straw, a fantastic statue that has belonged to the Church for many years. On both sides are Joseph and the Madonna who are not statues but blow-ups. At the feet of the Child we find the ox and the donkey. The shepherds, also on a human scale, are scattered in the courtyard near the well and the various buildings that change every year, reproducing a piece of the ancient town. Almost a tradition is to place a boat in a corner, as if it were being put into the sea, to remember that Torre Archirafi is a fishing town. The plants surrounding the scenario are as real as they are and full of love, the commitment that those who create it put in. We just have to hope that time is on their side and not like last year when bad weather swept away much of the work done.
Another nativity scene is represented in a room adjacent to the church. It is very large and is called the "Fisherman's Nativity Scene", the work of a local gentleman who prepares it with a lot of effort.
He creates the figurines personally and every year there is a new one that the parish priest previews during a Holy Mass. In this nativity scene you can see day and night because with an electric mechanism, which also makes many figurines move, the scenario changes.
They come to see it from neighboring towns because it is really beautiful. The scenography features the entire town of Torre Archirafi. Behind us we find Etna erupting; the lava flowing down into the valley seems real and in some moments you can even see the volcano erupting. At the foot of the mountain we find many houses and going down to the valley, we find the Torre Archirafi seafront represented with its fishermen on boats, real fish and a voice recorded in the background, telling the story of the town and that of Jesus. There is the fisherman with a line, the baker who bakes his bread, the shoemaker, the butcher... all moving figurines.
In a corner, at the foot of Etna, we find the manger with the Madonna, Joseph, the ox and the donkey and many shepherd children waiting to adore the Child. From the opposite side the Three Kings arrive accompanied by the moving comet star and sweet music. To find out what effect it has when you observe it, you have to visit it in person and for a few minutes let yourself be captured by the magic that Christmas transmits.
Text source: http://www.sicilia.lafragola.kataweb.it/catania/medie/gmacherione-giarre/story480131.html
Card insertion: Ignazio Caloggero
Information contributions: Web
Photo: https://casavacanzamaretna.wordpress.com/natale-in-sicilia/la-via-dei-presepi-a-riposto/
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