What is a den? Spiritual Bindings of Christianity

Someone prefers to buy a den at Christmas fairs or in a store, ready, and someone - to make their own, at home. Carved from wood or cardboard figures of the main actors of the Christmas Story, painted in bright colors, symbolizing a bright holiday, can not fail to please the eyes of adults and children, regardless of religion. What is a den? What is its history in Russia and other countries? Let's try to tell in this article.

Christmas Nativity Scene in Europe

In Christian Europe, and to this day, there is an old kind tradition of believers - to establish a dungeon in their homes as a metaphorical reminder of events that took place more than two thousand years ago. Christ was born! Praise Him!

In Russia

What is a den in Russia? Here, such a practice existed everywhere before the revolutionary coup of the Bolsheviks, which overthrew the great country into anti-religious chaos and obscurantism. In 1917, when anti-Christian propaganda began, and until the 80s of the 20th century, the performance of religious rituals (and the celebration of the birth of Christ was considered one of the main) becomes practically impossible, at least legally or publicly.

Revival

In the last few decades, the celebration of Christmas in general and the tradition of the nativity in particular are reviving. Christmas nativity is very popular, and not for some Christian believers. All because he is a global symbol, not only religious-metaphysical, but also social, and being. His versatility played a big role in world popularity.

A little more history

A literal translation of the word from the Old Slavonic one is a cave. This word is used to refer to the place where Christ was born as a born person. The Cave of Christmas is in Bethlehem. And the place of birth of the Savior is marked with a memorable inscription and a star. A bit far away - the limit of nurseries, where the Blessed Virgin put the baby. The niche, where previously there were nurseries, taken to Rome, is covered with marble. This unique and unrepeatable den was the prototype of all the existing successors. That's what a den is in the original sense of the word.

"The Bible for the Illiterate"

Over time, masters-craftsmen began to make dens of papier-mâché, wood, plaster, clay, porcelain. As a rule, uncomplicated, but refined, they spread to all countries of the Christian world as the most significant symbol of Christmas. Reproducing scenes from the Covenant, they played a huge educational role among illiterate peasants. And then in other layers of society. And in Italy (already in the 13th century) live denominations began appearing, the role of the characters was played by ordinary people. This den is still popular in Catholic countries, and on the territory of the former USSR - in Western Ukraine.

The nativity device

What is a den? Actually, it is a large box (sometimes - in human growth and higher). Portable, manufactured from plywood, thin bits or thick cardboard. And a nativity scene is multi-tiered. Usually two or three. To better understand what a den is, consider a two-tier structure. The upper tier is called the sky, or the cave. Christ was born there. The inner finish of the upper tier is blue paper, usually with asterisks carved from a shiny foil. The back wall depicted Christmas sketches. There are also dolls of the characters of the Holy Family - the Virgin, Joseph, Jesus. Different scenes were played out: the good news of angels, the adoration of the Magi and the shepherds, flight to Egypt.

It is interesting that in the Ukrainian and Belarusian Orthodox traditions, no movement or manipulation with the puppets depicting the Holy Family was allowed. Only figures of animals, shepherds, magi could move. And in the name of the Lord, angels said.

The lower tier of the den was called the land, or the palace. The palace of Herod the king was depicted. Here the scenery was simply covered with pictures or pictures were drawn. Figures, as a rule, were absent.

Sometimes the figures were large, and the design was stationary. Here is a wooden den (photo below).

The front side of the box, turned towards the audience, was closed with a shutter or bright color cloth. Special cuts were made in the floor of the stage, so that the puppets could move along them on special rods. To ensure that the slots were not so noticeable, the floor was covered with fur. At the top sometimes lamps were attached to illuminate the scene in the evening (previously - oil or kerosene, now - on batteries or batteries).

Dolls were made quite simply: they were cut from plywood, wood, molded from clay or papier-mache. Usually the height of the dolls was up to twenty centimeters and higher - otherwise they would not have been noticeable from afar. Now you know how to make a nativity yourself: variations on the topic can be different if you want to make it for Christmas holidays and make happy with the sketches of your children and acquaintances.