Christmas groups exhibition at Oudheidkundig Streekmuseum in Alphen
Christmas groups exhibition 'Francis of Assisi - 800 years of Christmas groups'.
This year we commemorate that 800 years ago in 1223, Francis of Assisi had the Christmas story depicted. The history of the nativity scene.
For centuries, we have been putting up a nativity scene at Christmas as a depiction of Jesus' birth in Bethlehem. Since the evangelist Luke speaks of a manger, the place of birth is a stable or cave. Since the 11th century, the Christmas story has been presented with 'living statues'. As a liturgical spectacle, people recalled the Christmas event in church.
The exhibition is a selection from the collection, some 2150 groups from 160 countries, of Ida and Peter Diemer from Veenendaal. The soundscape 'How did the nativity scene come to the Netherlands' takes you through the history of the representation of the birth of Jesus. How a pagan festival, the solstice, was transformed into Christmas, the feast of light.
The exhibition is on view from Sunday 26 November 2023 - 7 January 2024
Opening hours
Tuesdays from 10:00-12:00,
every Wednesday and Sunday afternoon from 13:30-16:30.
Christmas Day and New Year's Day from 13:30-16:30.
Closed: New Year's Day.
Oudheidkundig Streekmuseum Alphen
Baarleseweg 1, 5131 BA Alphen
