The Diocesan Pastoral of Turismo do Algarve challenges residents and visitors to visit the Algarvian cribs displayed in churches and museum spaces, in order to get to know the specifics of this Algarve tradition.
On the pastoral website, a guide and information on the traditions of Natal in the region were made available, allowing visits «in an autonomous way, by anyone who wishes» to some of the existing cribs, according to the structure of the Diocese of Algarve responsible for Tourism .
The tour includes the nativity scenes of São Brás de Alportel (Main Church and Museum of Costume), Loulé (Museum of Loulé), Santa Bárbara de Nexe (Main Church), São Bartolomeu de Messines (Museum of Costume and Traditions) and Paderne (Matrix Church).
«Several parishes have, in recent years, been recreating this tradition of “arming” the Algarvian crib and this tour will allow anyone accessing the online platform to find information about the places where traditional cribs are to be visited this year, whether in churches or museum spaces», summarized the Pastoral Diocesan de Turismo.
«The Algarvian crib has, in fact, unique characteristics, as there is only the figure of the Child Jesus, usually standing on top of a staircase/throne structure, decorated with the fruits of this time of year (oranges and other citrus fruits ) and dried fruits, with fragrant herbs and with harps (germinated seeds). Thus, the Child appears, glorious, triumphant, the Savior, Christ the King of the world and of the universe and always veiled by an oil lamp. These images were, as a general rule, handcrafted and made by local saint makers», according to the Diocese of Algarve.
Na online platform, “information on the gastronomic traditions associated with the celebration of Christmas in the Algarve and information on the feast of the Three Kings, also very relevant in the region's traditions” are also provided.
«The tours should be done autonomously by those who wish, similarly to what had already been proposed in relation to the Santos Algarvios (Beatos Vicente de Albufeira and Gonçalo de Lagos) and will allow direct contact with one of the most striking immaterial traditions in the region. religiosity of the region”, added the Diocesan Pastoral of the Algarve Tourism.
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