A major effort is under way to have the traditional Neapolitan Nativity scene recognised by the United Nations as part of the world's cultural heritage. In a first step towards obtaining this recognition, a project was illustrated here on Thursday at the University of Naples to establish a "cultural district" for the Neapolitan Nativity Scene, also known as presepe.
The district is a limited area in the city where there is a high concentration of artisans who have been producing the figures for the presepe for centuries.
Once officially recognised, the district will qualify for territorial investments aimed at protecting cultural heritage.
Approved in 2003, the UNESCO Convention for Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage seeks to preserve various forms such as oral legend, theatre, cultural traditions and customs, festivals, customs relating to nature and understanding about traditional handicrafts. The Nativity scene has been a decorative tradition of Italian Christmas for centuries and has become something of an art form since the concept originally appeared in the 13th century.
Neapolitans have long been considered the leaders in making the figures and objects for the presepe, which in the 19th century became a standard Christmas fixture for most Italian homes, when poorer families created their own scenes with miniature chalk, terracotta and papier-mache figures.
The popularity of the presepe faded slightly in Italy during the 1960s when the imported concept of the Christmas tree provided an alternative domestic focus. In recent years however, the scenes have regained their appeal.
The first recorded Nativity Scene in Italy was carved from wood by Arnolfo da Cambio in 1280. Some of the original pieces are still preserved in Rome's Saint Mary Major Cathedral.
The idea quickly caught on and over the next 200 years wood or terracotta figures, set against painted backdrops, became a common feature of churches at Christmas.
Nobles eventually started commissioning personal scenes for their homes, which became increasingly elaborate. In the 1600s, Neapolitan artists moved away from the stylised form of earlier scenes and began setting them within a more natural context.
They frequently featured recognisable elements of the countryside or cities, with figures representing all walks of life, from farmers and peasants through to the nobility, complete with their own sets of jewellery.
They became highly fashionable in Rome in the 17th century, with nobles commissioning renowned artists to create their very own Nativity Scenes.
Over the next 100 years, the scenes became such a status symbol that nobles would open their homes to other wealthy families and rich tourists for 'Nativity viewings'.
Many towns set up their own presepe and in some places the Nativity is staged with live people and animals.
In 1982, then-Pope John Paul II began the tradition of having a life-sized Nativity Scene set up in St Peter's Square at Christmas.
Although they were traditionally inaugurated at midnight on December 24, when the baby Jesus is put in the crib, it is now set up in mid-December and remain until after January 6, the Epiphany, the day when the Three Magi arrive with gifts to adore the Christ Child.
Eight out of ten Italians will have a Christmas tree, a nativity scene or both in their homes, a recent survey found, noting that the old Italian tradition of the home-made presepe was gradually losing ground to the northern fir tree.
