Today is the Christmas Eve and we, in Romania, have many traditions of pagan origin or religious ones. But this is not my subject today. Nevertheless, my story is related with my travels.


As I spent Christmas abroad during the last years, in big European cities as Rome, Paris, Vienna, Lisbon or Barcelona, I went to many Catholic churches for my prayers, and I saw the Holy Crib. It can be seen in any Catholic church during the Christmas time.

It is said that St. Francis of Assisi, visiting Rome in 1223, presented his project to carry on this ancient tradition to Pope Honorius III. He wanted to construct a crib with the Baby Jesus, and to put around it the Virgin Mary and St, Joseph, the sheperds, the ox and the donkey. The Pope agreed enthusiastically. Since then, the Catholic church preserves the tradition. Other elements have been added in time like the stable where Jesus have been born, the bright star of Bethlehem which announced the Birth, the three Magi.


I leave you with my photos of Holy Cribs, and I wish everybody  

Astazi este Ajunul Craciunului, de care se leaga la noi, la romani, numeroase obiceiuri laice, de provenienta pagana sau religioase. Subiectul meu nu este insa acesta, ci are legatura tot cu calatoriile.

Petrecandu-mi in ultimii ani Craciunul in mari capitale europene precum Roma, Paris, Viena, Lisabona sau Barcelona, am vizitat in Ajun numeroase biserici catolice si, peste tot, am zabovit in fata leaganului sfant. El este asezat in orice biserica catolica, in timpul sarbatoririi Craciunului.

Se spune ca la baza popularizarii acestui obicei foarte vechi se afla Sfantul Francis de Assisi  care l-a preluat si, cu ocazia unei vizite pe care a facut-o la Roma in 1223, a prezentat proiectul sau Papei Honorius al III-lea. El dorea sa recreeze scena Nasterii Mantuitorului, construind un leagan in care doarme pruncul sfant si langa care se afla Fecioara Maria si Iosif. In jurul leaganului urma sa puna figurile pastorilor, veniti sa il adore pe pruncul Iisus, boul si magarul. Papa a aprobat cu entuziasm propunerea, pe care biserica catolica o pune de atunci in practica. Desigur ca, pe parcurs, s-au adaugat diverse alte elemente cum ar fi staulul in care s-au adapostit Maria si Iosif si unde a venit pe lume Iisus, steaua stralucitoare ridicata deasupra Bethlehemului, care vestea Nasterea, cei trei magi. Nu exista o regula fixa, fiecare improvizand dupa dorinta.

Va las in tovarasia fotografiilor care infatiseaza leaganul sfant, dorindu-va tuturor un