Making nativity scenes

The production of nativity scenes also has a tradition in Svitavy, which was known as the Town of Nativity Scenes at the beginning of the 20^th century. It is therefore no surprise that the local Municipal Museum and Gallery is home to an extensive exhibition of a wide variety of nativity scenes. They proudly represent the Svitavy area, where the influences of the Olomouc or Ústí nad Orlicí nativity scene schools are readily apparent, in their concept and style. The nativity scene tradition has very long routes there with written documents going all the way back to the 17^th century.

The tradition of making nativity scenes generally dates back to Saint Francis of Assisi in 1223. The very first nativity scene included live animals, but it did not take long before the scenes began to be created using groups of statues and figures. According to the available records, the first nativity scene in this country appeared at the Church of Saint Clement in Prague in 1560. From there, the model of the nativity scene gradually spread to other churches and later still even to households until a tradition was established, which at the time of its greatest boom engaged many woodcutters and specialised nativity scene builders. The number of nativity scenes is truly infinite, as is the creativity that has led to the creation of many truly elaborate works supplemented with technical details.

Nativity scenes have many common features, but for all that each one is different. And how is such a nativity scene created? The nativity scene maker and woodcarver, Mr Štefan Hrudka of Mladkov, knows the entire process very well. Aware of the tradition, he takes great care to uphold the classic procedures, while using traditional tools, aids and materials. His mastery of this craft means that he also undertakes restoration work. As a good propagator of the tradition, Mr Štefan Hrudka also organises thematic workshops and courses.