Merry Christmas!
...to everyone who celebrates, and be safe if you're in the US and menaced by a snowstorm (or its aftermath). It's my pleasure to share my annual pic spam of the creches and nativity scenes in the churches of Bamberg (and this time, a little bit of Munich) with you again. Welcome to Franconian Bethlehem(s)!
Like I said, this year, before I left Munich to spend the holidays with my APs in Bamberg, I visited to central Munich church to see its nativity scenes as well, and lo, it had these to offer:
Detail:
Also, in great contrast, this one:
And this ensemble, featuring the church in question, the Frauenkirche, which you know when you've seen the Munich silhouette:
On to Franconia and Bamberg. This year, we started with St. Otto:
St. Gangolf:
St. Stephen (aka the Lutheran church which always presents not just the nativity but also various other scenes, like twelve years old Jesus in the temple:
And, amazingly for a Protestant church, St. Francis (don't ask me why, but it's definitely him):
This year, the creche in our Bamberg cathedral stepped up its game and included some truly lovely details. Behold:
Note the beer mug:
Always nice and going for a vaguely historical look: St. Martin's:
though note these Romans have mustaches:
As every year, the highlight was Franconian Bethlehem in the Obere Pfarre/Church of Our Lady, this one:
While the size and concept remains the same each year, they always pick slightly different scenes to illustrate it (aside from the nativity itself). This year, you got bricklayers:
And you have to love the details everywhere, like this guy on the rooftop of the inn where the nativity takes place:
Angelic orchestra:
Which causes some Franconian Bethlemites to dance:
Others are busy cleaning up:
And then there are the washerwomen:
You know, what kills me are those two Roman soldiers in the middle of all these 19th century Franconians. They're there every year and never change. With them and the washing and ironing ladies from Franconian Bethlehem, I end this year's pic spam, and wish you all the best!
Like I said, this year, before I left Munich to spend the holidays with my APs in Bamberg, I visited to central Munich church to see its nativity scenes as well, and lo, it had these to offer:
Detail:
Also, in great contrast, this one:
And this ensemble, featuring the church in question, the Frauenkirche, which you know when you've seen the Munich silhouette:
On to Franconia and Bamberg. This year, we started with St. Otto:
St. Gangolf:
St. Stephen (aka the Lutheran church which always presents not just the nativity but also various other scenes, like twelve years old Jesus in the temple:
And, amazingly for a Protestant church, St. Francis (don't ask me why, but it's definitely him):
This year, the creche in our Bamberg cathedral stepped up its game and included some truly lovely details. Behold:
Note the beer mug:
Always nice and going for a vaguely historical look: St. Martin's:
though note these Romans have mustaches:
As every year, the highlight was Franconian Bethlehem in the Obere Pfarre/Church of Our Lady, this one:
While the size and concept remains the same each year, they always pick slightly different scenes to illustrate it (aside from the nativity itself). This year, you got bricklayers:
And you have to love the details everywhere, like this guy on the rooftop of the inn where the nativity takes place:
Angelic orchestra:
Which causes some Franconian Bethlemites to dance:
Others are busy cleaning up:
And then there are the washerwomen:
You know, what kills me are those two Roman soldiers in the middle of all these 19th century Franconians. They're there every year and never change. With them and the washing and ironing ladies from Franconian Bethlehem, I end this year's pic spam, and wish you all the best!