Il Presepe

Today I stopped  by to see my Italian friend Laura, toccata e fuga style. There are many reasons to visit Laura, and it's always a pleasure to see her, but at this time of year it's a special treat, because the presepio is on display.

The depiction of the nativity story in sculpted clay or carved wood figurines is an Italian tradition that goes back at least to the 13th century. Its focus of course is the Holy Family at the manger...although the manger is left empty until Christmas morning...with herald angels gathered near, and kings and shepherds making their way towards Bethlehem's bright and wondrous star.

But by 18th century Naples, the presepio had evolved into an extravaganza filled with all sorts of colorful characters that we don't typically associate with the Biblical story.

And that's what I love about it: its motley and joyful inclusiveness, the way it seems to represent the grand procession of life.

I love the fellow with the fishing pole sitting by a tin foil river, the saucy looking women holding baskets of fruit or silvery fish, a shepherd with his frisky lambs and another curled up contentedly on the ground for a snooze. I love the man roasting chestnuts, and the bagel-donut-simit vendor (take your pick), and I love the shaggy camels and wine-bearing donkeys too.     

From faces sweet and filled-with-light to the incongruous and even unsavory, there's an uncontainable sense of anticipation and celebration in this crowd.  It's a veritable festival, a whimsical parade.

For unto us...all of us...is born a son, a king, a savior.