Although some associations across Europe are speaking out against setting up nativity scenes in public spaces during the Advent season, the custom continues, and many people stand up for the centuries-old tradition. A small village in France, for example, turns into a giant nativity scene for two months.

Despite the fact that some associations want to rid public spaces of Christmas nativity scenes across Europe, citing the principle of secularism, the custom continues. The other day in Montpellier, France, the administrative court rejected two requests for interim measures by the Ligue des droits de l'homme (League of Human Rights), which demanded the removal of the nativity scene from the town hall of Béziers.

A small village near Nice uniquely embodies the roots of this centuries-old tradition , which is often attributed to St. Francis of Assisi.

drew attention to it based on an article from the French newspaper Le Figaro .

For 26 years, Lucéram has been transformed into a giant nativity scene for eight weeks: "From December 4 to February 2, during the period when Mary was in Bethlehem," explains Christiane Ricort, the project's initiator and deputy mayor. In the village of 1,200 inhabitants, 33 Provençal nativity scenes were erected in 1998, and this year already more than 450.

There are life-sized ones, such as the one near the town hall, but also one where two angels' wings embrace the arch of a covered passage in one of the streets. There are also very small groups of statues displayed on the wall of a house or on the ledge of a window decorated with precious stones.

The whole village is involved and that's what makes us so special. Even the mayor

Christiane Ricort told Le Figaro.

Tens of thousands of visitors come to the village every year to enjoy this extraordinary Christmas spectacle. So much so that, in addition to the opening of the Bethlehem museum, the city administration also created an eleven-stop tour so that visitors can navigate among the many groups of sculptures on display, be they traditional or unusual, decorated with wood, fabric or wrought iron.

Some estimates put the number of visitors at 60,000.

“That's why we still have dealers. In addition to the traditions and the pride in maintaining it, it is also a significant source of tourism," confirms Michel Calmet, mayor of Lucéram.

"We have every right to defend our Christian roots. There is one church and seven chapels in Lucéram, that really says it all. Secularism also means tolerance. The debate around the topic makes me sad"

Christiane Ricort added. As he noted, "those who want to ban nativity scenes should be put to work on December 25."

Ricort also said he was visited by one such association in 2017: "We almost went to court," he said.

They have been trying to trample on the tradition for years

As V4NA has already reported, the banning of public nativity scenes and the destruction of hundreds of years of tradition has been the mission of some groups for years.

However, the first person from the aforementioned Béziers did not give up, even when in 2019 the left-liberal National Association of Free Thinkers sent a notice to all county representatives in the country, reminding them that nativity scenes should not be set up in public institutions. Even then, Robert Ménard set up the nativity scene at the town hall.

The mayor said that the sub-prefect sent him a letter reminding him of the rules. Robert Ménard responded to the letter, which was not objected to by the other party, but the French National Association of Free Thinkers does not agree with the fact that it was set up in a public institution in Bethlehem, according to them, the mayor was proselytizing.

But Italy is no exception, there too the tradition is attacked every year as the Advent season begins. This year, the Italian newspaper Domani questioned whether the nativity scene is still necessary. The title of the article is also telling: Why is there still nativity scene in the lobbies of our schools? The article refers to the objections of a mother who asks what is the point of following Christian traditions? - wrote the Magyar Nemzet.

The author already notes in the introduction that Bethlehem is a symbol of an exclusionary and racist community, where there is no place to listen to others.

The article caused quite a bit of indignation in several government politicians. Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salivni called it shocking and shameful.

"Hands off nativity scenes, which are a symbol of tradition, identity and Christianity and which must be protected at all costs. Action must be taken against those who attempt to erase Christian values"

- wrote the general secretary of the League indignantly in a Facebook post. He then encouraged his followers to take photos of nativity scenes in their homes, schools and public spaces and post them.

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