Jasna Gora crib marks Poland's baptism anniversary

This year's Christmas nativity crib at Poland's Jasna Gora Catholic sanctuary in Czestochowa, south Poland marks the 1,050th anniversary of Poland's conversion to Christianity.

Fot. PAP/Waldemar Deska / Częstochowa, 22.12.2015. Bożonarodzeniowa szopka jasnogórska zaprezentowana przedstawicielom mediów 22 bm. na Jasnej Górze w Częstochowie. Szopka wykonana została pod kierunkiem jasnogórskiego dekoratora o. Bronisława Kraszewskiego. (zuz) Fot. PAP/Waldemar Deska

The 2.5 thousand sqm crib located in the Jasna Gora gardens is one of the biggest nativity scenes in Poland. Work on the object began in November under the supervision of the sanctuary's head decorator Father Bronislaw Kraszewski.

This year's edition features several new figures, including the Holy Family, the Three Wise Men paying homage to the baby Jesus, and shepherds. The crib also has an animal pen with sheep, rabbits, pigeons, a pony and the donkey Amelka, a standing favourite with children.

Also featured is a fragment of the picture "Return of the Prodigal Son" by 18th-century Spanish artist Bartolome Esteban Murillo. A Tree of Life with figures of Polish saints and Mieszko I, an early Polish ruler who converted the country to the Christian faith, refers to Mieszko's and Poland's 966 baptism, whose 1,050th anniversary falls next year.

The crib will open on Christmas Day. (PAP)

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