Post- competition 80th Jubilee Competition of Krakow Nativity Scenes

The Cracow custom of "walking around" with a nativity scenes dates back to the 19th century. However, after World War I, it began to slowly disappear. To preserve the nativity scene tradition for the future generations, Jerzy Dobrzycki, head of the municipal propaganda department, organized the first Competition of Kraków Nativity Scenes in 1937. After World War II, the competitions were resumed and organized by the Museum of Krakow, which continues this tradition to this day. The main purpose of the competition is to preserve and develop Krakow's nativity scene traditions, the effect of which crystallized over several decades - the Krakow nativity scene - has become a global phenomenon with an established international reputation and popularity. The competition is of great importance for the promotion and popularization of this unique product of the tradition of intangible heritage.

The Krakow nativity scene is a phenomenon on a global scale. It is a slender, multi-level, towering, richly decorated building, constructed of light, perishable materials. It is characterized by an accumulation of fancifully processed and interconnected miniaturized elements of the historic architecture of Krakow, in which the scenery was transferred to the Christmas scene.

Every year on the first Thursday of December (this year on December 1, 2022), nativity scenes makers bring their creations to the Main Square and place them on the steps of the Adam Mickiewicz monument, where they can be vied and admired from 10 am to 12 pm. After the (hejnał) bugle call at noon a procession of nativity scenes around the Market Square is led by a folk band from Bronowice, which leads to the stage where nativity scenes and their creators are presented. Then, the artists move their works to the Krzysztofory Palace, where they will be assessed by the Jury, consisting of, among others, of historians, ethnographers, art historians, architects, and artists.
 
The uniqueness of the phenomenon is emphasized by its inclusion in 2014 on the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. In addition, since 2018, the tradition of making nativity scenes has been the first entry from Poland on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
 
The announcement of the winners of the jubilee competition will take place on December 4, 2022 at 1 p.m. in the Copper Room at the Krzysztofory Palace. Prizes will be awarded to children on December 11, 2022 at 12.00.

As tradition dictates, the nativity scenes will be shown to the public from December 5, 2022 to February 27, 2023 at the post-competition exhibition at the Krzysztofory Palace.

During the game, participants in small groups will have the opportunity to learn about the unique tradition of building nativity scenes in Krakow. During the competition, they will discover the architecture and legends that inspire the creators of Krakow's intangible heritage. Teams of 3 to 10 people will also face the difficult task of creating elements of nativity scenes, and on the occasion of the 80th Jubilee Competition of Krakow Nativity Scenes, they will have the opportunity to get to know selected profiles of the most prominent creators.

The game will take place on December 3, 2022.
It will start at 10 am in the hall of the Krzysztofory Palace (Rynek Główny 35) and ends there at 2:30pm

Once again, Cracovians and tourists will have the opportunity to take a unique walk around Krakow in the search of the Cracovian nativity scene. The Museum of Krakow, together with the Krakow Festival Office, placed over twenty Krakow nativity scenes throughout the city.

As every year, (szopki) nativity scenes can be seen in Krakow's squares and parks, in shop windows, hotels and restaurants, and in shopping malls. Displayed in illuminated glass cases, (szopki) the nativity scenes will take on a new context. We invite you to join us for a walk Around the Nativity Scene on January 6, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. It will be led by the director of the Museum of Krakow, Dr. Michał Niezabitowski.

Nativity scenes can be admired in the urban space from December 2, 2022 to January 31, 2023.

The 80th Krakow Nativity Scenes Competition and the post-competition exhibition received the honorary patronage of the Polish Committee for UNESCO.

The project is co-financed by the Minister of Culture and National Heritage from the Culture Promotion Fund

• Bank Spółdzielczy Rzemiosła in Kraków

• Waterworks of the City of Krakow S.A.

• ARTIM Sp. z o. o.
• IMAGO FOLK ART CENTER Sp. z o. o.
• Totalizator Sportowy Sp. z o. o. Krakow Branch - owner of the LOTTO brand
• Kärcher Sp. z o. o.
• Bright Junior Media – owner of the Czuczu brand