The Nativity Scene Exhibition

Created on: 1. 12. 2023

If you purchase a ticket for the visitor circuit of the monastery, you can also visit the Nativity scene exhibition until February 4, 2024, to which we warmly invite you.

Exhibition for the 800th anniversary of folk Nativity scenes

From December 21, 2023, to February 4, 2024, as part of the monastery tour, you can also see the exhibition prepared for the 800th anniversary of folk Nativity scenes.

The exhibition features a collection of Nativity scenes from a private collection, supplemented with examples of Renaissance and contemporary Christmas medals. The exposition also includes a series of Christmas medals issued by the Příbram Nativity Scene Makers Association and exhibits from the collections of members of the Czech Numismatic Society.

Nativity scenes are more than just a display of figurines and scenes. Each Nativity scene is a unique narrator of stories and evidence of the culture of the place from which it originates. From simple wooden figures to intricately detailed models with lighting and moving figurines, Nativity scenes are a testimony to the skills and talent of craftsmen around the world.

The first Nativity scenes began to be created in the 13th century. St. Francis of Assisi is considered the founder of the tradition of Christmas cribs when he organized a live reenactment of the birth of Jesus Christ in Greccio, Italy, in 1223.

In our territory, the tradition of building Nativity scenes precedes the depiction of Christ's birth on medals. The first medals with this subject were cast in Jáchymov around 1533, while the first Nativity scene was built in Prague in 1550 at the Church of St. Clement. Christmas medals were already cast in the Kremnica Mint around 1530. These medals were thus predecessors of Czech and Moravian Nativity scenes.

The Czech Numismatic Society brings together collectors, researchers, educational, and cultural institutions in the field of numismatics, notaphily, and phaleristics. It organizes exchange meetings, member auctions, lectures, exhibitions, seminars, symposia, and excursions, publishes publications, and medals.

The Příbram branch of the CNS is one of its most active branches. However, the most famous Příbram issues are a series of 52 medals of the Příbram Nativity Scene Makers Association, whose emission is ensured by a member of the CNS and the chairman of the Příbram Nativity Scene Makers Association, Ján Chvalník. The medal of the association Příbram Nativity Scene Makers issued for the jubilee year 2000, 2000 years since the birth of Jesus Christ, was received by Pope John Paul II, Cardinal Miloslav Vlk, and Apostolic Nuncio Giovanni Coppa and is stored in two caskets in restored churches. Association medals were minted from bronze, copper, brass, but also silver, in various diameters.