The encyclopedia description of the Presepio is a three dimensional representation of the birth of Jesus Christ, composed of mobile figures arranged according to the artistic sense of the builder as well as realistic elements such as houses, rocks, plants etc.As such the Presepio is closely related to the theatre because it intends to render an event remote in time and space present and real by means of fiction of a spectacular nature and at the same time, like the theatre, it cannot be separated from the scenery.
None of which prepares you for the Presepe that Sacco builds in Barga each year
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Normally the presepio contains about ten characters Mary, Joseph, the baby Jesus, the three wise men, a shepherd and a few animals but he manages to slip in (almost) unnoticed modern plastic figures. This year he has surpassed himself with a nativity scene in the window of Aristo’s bar in Barga Vecchia that included Disney Seven Dwarfs, waterfalls and flashing LED lights. More images of Sacco here
Prizes are given in Barga for the best presepe. Each year the presentation ceremony fills the Palazzo Pancrazi with eager people being awarded their winning cups (article here)
The irony of seeing gnomes incorporated into a traditional presepe was not lost on some of the smaller inhabitants of Barga. Especially as Sacco was the spokesman for the the Europe Gnome Sanctuary a number of years ago. To quote from their site ;
We are proud to announce the first European Gnome Sanctuary here in Barga. Come one and all !!! All are welcome. Life here is protected, no more small garden prisons, no more torture ( the strimmer is a thing of the past here in Barga ) What are you waiting for ? You have nothing to lose but your chains. Gnomes of Europe, let’s together build a new way of life, a new future, a new bright beginning.
THIS IS OUR MOMENT ! Come on down and join the movement -- European Gnome Sanctuary site here
The Presepio originated in Italy in the 1200’s when St. Francis of Assisi asked Giovanni Vellita from the village of Greccio to create a manger scene. St. Francis then performed Christmas mass in front of this nativity scene.