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Christmas Crib by Kanti D’souza a St Aloysius ITI Staff bags Ward and Church Awards in Valencia

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Christmas Crib by Kanti D’souza a St Aloysius ITI Staff bags Ward and Church Awards in Valencia

Christmas Crib by Kanti D’souza a St Aloysius Industrial Training Institute (ITI) Staff bags Ward and Church Awards in Valencia

Mangaluru: In the Christian tradition, a nativity scene (also known as a manger scene, crib) is the special exhibition, particularly during the Christmas season, of art objects representing the birth of Jesus. While the term “nativity scene” may be used of any representation of the very common subject of the Nativity of Jesus in art, it has a more specialized sense referring to seasonal displays, either using model figures in a setting or reenactments called “living nativity scenes” (tableau vivant) in which real humans and animals participate. Nativity scenes exhibit figures representing the infant Jesus, his mother, Mary, and her husband, Joseph.

Other characters from the nativity story, such as shepherds, sheep, and angels may be displayed near the mangerin a barn (or cave) intended to accommodate farm animals, as described in the Gospel of Luke. A donkey and an ox are typically depicted in the scene, and the Magi and their camels, described in the Gospel of Matthew, are also included. Several cultures add other characters and objects that may or may not be Biblical.

Saint Francis of Assisi is credited with creating the first live nativity scene in 1223 in order to cultivate the worship of Christ. He himself had recently been inspired by his visit to the Holy Land, where he’d been shown Jesus’s traditional birthplace. The scene’s popularity inspired communities throughout Catholic countries to stage similar pantomimes. Distinctive nativity scenes and traditions have been created around the world, and are displayed during the Christmas season in churches, homes, shopping malls, and other venues, and occasionally on public lands and in public buildings.

Different traditions of nativity scenes emerge in different countries. The devotion also spread to private homes, and in modern times even to secular institutions, so much so that it’s now impossible to imagine Christmas without having a nativity scene to behold. And for that matter, the “Rome of the East-Mangaluru” has its own charm and designs in Christmas Cribs- and Ms Kanti D’souza of Valencia- Mangaluru have been making different kinds of Cribs for the last 15 years, where they have won two First places, and many other smaller prizes all these years. And this year (2018) is no exception, where the D’souza family has bagged the First place in the Holy Cross Ward of Valencia Church Crib Contest, and also the Third place in the Church crib contest. Congratulations to Ms Kanti and her family for their efforts in winning the laurels for their artistic and unique Crib of 2018.

Kanti D’souza, her husband Jerome D’souza- a employee at MACO Petrol Bunk in Balmatta, Mangaluru, her two sons Callen, doing his First year technical course at St Aloysius ITI, and Christon, studying in 6th standard at St Aloysius Higher Primary school, Mangaluru- this happy family joined together in creating this prize winning Christmas Crib, which took them nearly two weeks to complete. With nearly 70 sheep and other needed figurines, real green grass, rocks, gunny bags, plywood to build a bridge, a water flower river, the D’souza family were successful in creating a unique Crib, added to their credit and keepsake memories. And the main person behind the Crib making project is Ms Kanti, who wanted to keep the tradition of making cribs during Christmas season alive, and also wanted her sons to carry forward the same tradition in future too.

Even though Ms Kanti had missed couple of years in the past, due to her hectic schedule at work, and also as a home-maker with lots of housework , but she is happy that this year she could make her crib hobby come back and earn a recognition. Many neighbours and visitors had stopped by to view her Crib, and the family received lots of compliments for their good work and creativity. Team Mangalorean also extends heartfelt compliments and congratulation to Ms Kanti & Jerome D’souza, Callen and Chrsiton for their prize winning Crib.

In conclusion, in my perspective, Nativity scene is more than a pretty Christmas decoration. It is a historic Catholic tradition and a tool for meditation on the humility, simplicity and poverty that Christ took on from the moment of his incarnation, out of his boundless love for humanity. As we look on the baby Jesus in the manger, we believe that He is the answer to our problems. Instead of violence, we see gentleness in Baby Jesus in the manger we; instead of hatred, we see tenderness and instead of selfishness, we see God’s love for us in baby Jesus. In this world of consumerism, the true message of Christmas is becoming lost; buried underneath layers of secular traditions”

“Yet at the same time we also still see nativities everywhere during Christmas time. Indeed, Jesus is the essence of Christmas. The tiny baby Jesus lying in the manger is an amazing manifestation of God’s love. For Christians, the custom of building a Christmas crib provides an occasion to come into contact with the mystery of Christ. As a strong resonance of popular piety, the faithful are invited to venerate the Child Jesus, which placed in a crib erected in the Church or another convenient place. If you forgot to make a Christmas Crib this year, make sure you do one next year- and follow in the footsteps of Ms Kanti and family and keep this Crib making tradition alive in the “Rome of the East”!


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