The Magi this year arrive at the Bethlehem manger in boats like the ships of Venice – yet no one seems to understand the visual intervention
The Christmas decoration of St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican surprised – mostly negatively – this year. In addition to the “distressed” fir tree, which nevertheless looks beautiful lit up at night, the strange, eerie and creepy manger, with the figures looking like zombies, catches the eye.
Indeed, the Magi arrive at the manger in Bethlehem in boats like the ships of Venice – yet no one seems to understand the significance of this visual intervention.
In the morning, the bony figures wrapped in gauze seem haunted – there’s even a Haro-evocative boatman – and at night, with the lighting, they’re even more terrifying.
The Nativity scene comes from Grado, a Mediterranean town located on the northern coast of Italy that inspired the traditional fisherman’s hut and boats of the early 20th century.
To build the traditional Italian manger, local craftsmen worked day and night for months.
Last year, the Vatican nativity scene was imposing and fully in tune with the religious sentiment.
The figures of Joseph, the Virgin Mary, the three wise men and the shepherds were life-size and the manger was inspired by the first living representation of the Nativity scene 800 years ago by St. Francis of Assisi.
Source :Skai
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