How to make a nativity scene on the street. Master class on making a Christmas nativity scene with your own hands. Christmas nativity scene - a visual display of knowledge about the holiday

Master class on making a Christmas nativity scene

Author: Ilya Goncharov, 5th grade student of the Tubinskaya secondary school
Head: Veshkina Valentina Sergeevna, teacher of the ORKSE MOU "Tubinskaya secondary school"
Description: the master class is intended for students in grades 1-4, primary school teachers, creative parents, teachers of additional education, teachers of the ORKSE.
Purpose: Nativity scene can be used to act out the story of the birth of Jesus Christ in the classroom or at home, in the study of the history of the feast of the Nativity of Christ.
We used the layout at the extracurricular event "Christmas Nativity Scene", where children with disabilities acted out a wonderful story of the Nativity of Christ for younger schoolchildren in a puppet show. The ability to see, examine, play the image helps students studying in the auxiliary correctional program to better perceive and remember what they saw at the event.

Target: creating a nativity scene layout
Tasks:
develop imaginative thinking by making a layout
develop regulatory skills: plan activities, gradually implement what has been planned, bring what has been started to the end
educate interest in history, search activities
Materials: cardboard box, fabric scraps, furniture stapler or large office stapler, rods, secateurs, scissors, needle, thread, PVA glue, adhesive tape.
Safety precautions when working with scissors (secateurs):
1. Scissors must be well adjusted and sharpened.
2. Store scissors in a specific place (box or stand).
3. When using scissors, be as careful and disciplined as possible.
4. When passing the scissors, hold them with closed blades pointing away from you.
5. Scissors during operation must be placed on the right, with closed blades.
6. When cutting, the narrow blade of the scissors should be at the bottom.

In the Christian world, there is an old tradition - to put a nativity scene in the house or decorate on the street for Christmas. The nativity scene is a model of the Bethlehem cave with dolls inside. Someone buys it in a store, someone prefers to make it himself.
The Cave of the Nativity, or the Holy Nativity scene, is located under the pulpit of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.

The birthplace of the Savior is marked on the floor with a silver star and an inscription in Latin

"Jesus Christ of the Virgin Mary was born here." In a semicircular niche, sixteen lamps are glowing behind a star. A little further away is the Aisle of the nursery - the place where the Virgin Mary laid Christ after birth. The manger-feeder for animals, which the Virgin used as a cradle, was taken out in the seventh century to Rome as a great shrine. And the niche where the manger stood was overlaid with marble.
Nativity scene - reproduction of the scene of the Nativity of Christ by means of various arts (sculpture, theater).

Scientists suggest that the first panoramas depicting the Cave of the Nativity appeared in the 13th century in Italy, and later became very popular throughout Europe.
In Russia, theatrical nativity scenes are known - short puppet shows with a Christmas story. To act out the performance, a special two- or three-story portable box-house was made, where the Christmas story was played out.

It is known that at the end of the 18th century in St. Petersburg a dynasty of vertepschikov was formed - the Kolosov family, who for almost a century kept the tradition of performing performances.
Nativity scenes flourished in the 19th century, when they became popular not only in central Russia, but also in Siberia. After the revolution of 1917, the Christmas nativity scene, along with the New Year Tree, were strictly banned as "religious agitation." Only at the end of the 20th century did the restoration of the traditions of the nativity scene begin. Folklorist Viktor Novatsky carefully examined the crib boxes and restored the text of the performance. His version of the action is considered a model.

Progress:
1. At the cardboard box, cut off the lid and turn it on its side.

2. With pieces of fabric we wrap the walls of the box and the base - the floor of the cave.

3. From the outside, we also cover the walls of the box with a fabric using a stapler or a needle and thread (the choice of tool depends on the thickness of the cardboard).

4. Makes a "hayloft" from a free cover, fastening the cardboard with tape.

5. We lay dry grass on the roof of the den (you can decorate with spruce needles and tinsel).

6. Carefully cut the rods with secateurs.

7. We lay the rods on the roof of the nativity scene, smearing them with glue.

8. With thin twigs we decorate the "entrance" of the cave; using a needle and thread, we fix the "poles" to the fabric.

9. You can make a manger out of twigs by folding the branches into a “well” and fastening them together with a thread.

10. We prepare a sheaf of hay from a bunch of grass, tying it in a knot and cutting off excess straws.
The Christmas crib is ready.

Figurines of Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus and animals can be made from paper, plasticine, salt dough.
Thank you for your attention.

Nativity scene - entertainment with a deep meaning

Rehearsal in the big hall of the Children's and Youth Creativity Palace "on Stopani". The light is muted. Two powerful spotlights illuminate the stage. A dozen teenagers lined up in a semicircle around four chairs - an impromptu stage on which the story of two thousand years ago unfolds.

“Stop, stop,” shouts Valeria Petrushina, head of the Veretentse folklore ensemble, to the children. She has a baby in her arms. Turning to the students, she speaks in a singsong voice, pumping up her falling asleep daughter. - The song is minor, we sing sadly. Rachel is crying. The bell sounds and the angel sings in a high voice: “Do not cry, Rachel. But God accepts into his saints ... Paradise will be happy. All clear?

The children nod, continue to play the nativity scene, but every now and then the teacher stops them. Still, the old texts are quite difficult to understand.

Thirty years ago, the ensemble "Veretentse" chose the "Performance with singing and stories" The Death of King Herod "for their Nativity scene. This is one of the rather popular texts in Russia, included in the folklore collection "People's Theater".

They say that once the text was invented by the seminarians of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra. Under the guise of entertainment, they catechized listeners and spectators.

Later, during folk festivals, "The Death of King Herod" was performed both by a "living den", that is, people in disguise, and puppets. In the 19th century, folk theater was a fairly popular form of entertainment.

Rotators with huge wooden boxes walked around the cities, inside of which there was a two-three-story stage and all the characters. The upper tier was angelic, the middle one was for Herod, and the lower one depicted hell. All floors were slotted so that the pupae on sticks could move. As a rule, the vertepschik alone played the scene of the Nativity of Christ. Moreover, he could show it not only at Christmas itself and on Christmas Eve, but also throughout the year to remind of gospel events.

Puppets for the ensemble "Veretentse" were once made by Nikolai Nikolaevich Komov, a famous puppet master and host of the once popular program "A Holiday Every Day". He thought over the images, made masks. Children show the performance with its puppets at festivals, in hospitals and nursing homes, orphanages and hospices, introducing the audience to Russian traditions.

Many parents of children from the ensemble make their own puppet cribs, someone even has a box at home, which they take out once a year. Often in the summer, folklorists organize a nativity scene competition at the Family Circle festival.

Will the children be psychologically traumatized?

Valeria Evgenievna again takes off and shows the children in what voice to portray the characters. Quite menacingly and in a singsong voice, she says:

- About Herod... For your great anger... Death will come... And the devil will take your soul and bones... Arseniy, well, pause. Count to three after each sentence. Once. Two. Three. Understand, children, a pause is an important thing. Just do not think that you are silent for a long time. Not long at all, but the audience understands everything.

Death appears on the scene, who enters into a skirmish with Herod and finally cuts off Herod's head with his silver scythe. The teacher again runs up to the children, shows how the mechanism of the Komovsky puppets works and adds:

- The head should spin and roll between Death and the devil. Don't rush to clean it up.

Immediately, one of the teenage singers asks quite seriously:

- Valeria Evgenievna, there are children in the hall! Will they have psychological trauma?

- Calm down, Vasya, there will be no injuries. He's a bad guy! The main thing to understand is that when the screen appears, no one will see you. It will not be you who will play, but the dolls, albeit speaking in your voices. Spectators - adults and children - will believe in what is happening. Therefore, play with dedication and pleasure.

How to play nativity play at home

You don't need many characters. The main ones are Mary and Joseph, a baby, a bull and a donkey, a shepherd, three kings, an angel, a star. The number of actors can be expanded by adding several shepherds, sheep, camels, a Christmas tree.

You can make figures from paper or plasticine, felt or wool. They can be knitted, sewn, glued, cut, and even bought in the store ready-made figures. Fantasy will tell you what will be easier, more interesting and more fun.

It is most convenient to install your impromptu nativity scene on a chair with a back. Then its back will be the second tier of your theater and the mountains for the kings to walk. However, the stool is quite suitable. Put it at the table so that the kings have a place to walk.

Cover the "scene" with a dark cloth or handkerchief. However, the action takes place at night. To illuminate what is happening, you can use a floor lamp, a table lamp, and finally, a phone flashlight. If there are any musical instruments at home, then you can use them. But any plywood can become a drum, and pot lids or a crystal glass, which can be lightly beaten with a spoon, can become a bell.

Nativity scene installed. Inside the cave, which may just be a hat - the Infant Christ, Mary, Joseph and animals. The action begins with the singing of the troparion to the Nativity of Christ:

Thy Nativity, Christ our God, ascend the world with the light of reason: in it, for those who serve the stars, I study the star, bow down to the Sun of truth, and lead Thee from the height of the East: Lord, glory to Thee.

Then the kontakion is sung:

The Virgin today gives birth to the Most Substantial, and the earth brings a den to the Unapproachable: angels with shepherds glorify, the wizards travel with the star: for the sake of us was born Young Young, the Eternal God.

During the singing, an angel should appear above the den:

New joy has become, like praise in the sky

Above the den, a star shone brightly.

At this moment, a star rises and hangs or stands above the nativity scene, if you made a star on a stick, for example. And the shepherd comes. He bows, remains standing in front of the den.

Shepherds go with a lamb, before a small child,

They fall on their knees, they glorify Christ.

David plays today, strikes the harp,

Melodiously and wonderfully praises God.

We pray, we ask Christ the King, the Heavenly Sovereign,

Grant a happy summer to all the Lord.

Then, one after the other, three kings walk along the table or back of the chair. They can walk back and forth at a slow pace, as if traveling among the mountains, and stop at the moments that the plot requires. And do not forget that the kings must bow to the Christ Child.

At this time, you can sing or just say the following lines:

Three kings went to Christ with gifts,

Herod is before them, where they go to ask:

The first king: "Let's go to the born!"

The second king: "Let's go bow!"

Let's go to worship, to appear before the King.

If I bow, I will humble myself before the Tsar.

The first king: "I am the king Caspar from distant lands,

I'm going after a wonderful star, unknown to me!

Second king: “I am King Belshazzar of the eastern countries,

I saw a holy star and I'm going after it!

The third king: “I am King Melchior of the Persian mountains.

I read wise books, I learned the secret of the star!

Where Christ was born, there the star appeared,

A star will strike wonderfully from the east until noon

Then the bell rings and an angel appears. He must always speak in a high voice:

"Go the other way

don't go to Herod,

Herod is embarrassed

summons the wise men,

beating babies"

And then, accompany your singing with the sounds of thorns. Kolyuka is one of the most ancient instruments. Usually made from poisonous cow parsnip, but only when the frost hits. You can make a thorn from reeds, gouts, even from plastic. If there is no thorn, any other instrument with a pleasant noise effect will do. And at this time you need to sing:

“Three kings went to their countries,

Christ is glorified, there is tea in the sky.

Christ is glorified forever praise ...

Immediately, all participants in the crib action should take turns speaking in a patter and several times:

“Herod gets all the glory and beats all the babies” several times.

The bell rings again. It always announces the appearance of an angel. And the Angel flies out in a thin and high voice says:

Joseph, Mary, get up!

Run to Egypt, save the baby!

Then you need to put the dolls of Joseph and Mary with the baby on animals: a donkey and a camel. And depicting a clatter, which can also be accompanied by a tune on the balalaika, if you have it at home, the heroes leave and leave the stage,

One of the children, summing up the performance, should say:

Herod the beast failed to destroy Christ,

his Mother took him to hidden places!

And we wish you a Merry Christmas and wish to glorify Christ.

At the end of the performance, you can sing any carol. Take it from the collection "Church Life", or you can sing, for example, this:

My mother Mary walked across the field,

Scattered the candles

Little guys stood in the city

They were waiting for Christ.

Christ was born in the city appeared,

Sow, wei, sow Happy New Year!

This performance lasts no more than 10-15 minutes. The performance itself can be performed already on January 7 in the evening and all Svyatki will delight friends and acquaintances with it.

Well, if you still want to see for yourself and listen to folk singing, then on January 8, 9, 10 at 11.00 and at 14.00, students and teachers of the Vertenetse ensemble will perform Nativity scenes at the Center for Slavic Literature and Culture in Moscow. Merry Christmas!

The New Year is approaching - a holiday loved by everyone since childhood, fabulous and sparkling. And soon after him comes the light feast of the Nativity. This is also in many ways a children's holiday, when the world rejoices at the birth of a Baby, glorifies and celebrates this great event. And, probably, in many families these days, near a beautiful Christmas tree, there will be a Christmas nativity scene made by the hands of children and parents.

What is it, how to make it and when to install it? Let's try to answer these questions.

History and traditions of nativity scenes

Quiet night, a cave for cattle, a bright star above it, and in a manger a tiny Christ with his Mother - this story has been embodied in art for many centuries. The tradition of making a "nativity scene" - to reproduce the scene of the Nativity with the help of figurines from different materials - came to us in Russia relatively recently from European countries. Now in all countries where there is Christianity, there is such a custom, and their own characteristics have been formed.

For example, in France, the figurines from the nativity scene are brownish in color and hand-painted; in Italy and Germany they are wooden and varnished, the aroma of incense or flower oil is certainly added; in England figurines for the nativity scene are generally ... edible! Very refined and delicate figurines in Mexico are made of porcelain or faience with inlay.

"And in Japan, all the characters are dressed, of course, in local national costumes, and they do not draw faces: according to Japanese tradition, this means the primacy of the spiritual principle.

No strict rules when to install a crib. Most often, they decorate houses and churches from January 2 - the New Year has died down, the pre-Christmas holiday begins. But it would be quite appropriate to make and deliver it earlier, even from the end of November (from the beginning of the Advent). But the nativity scene usually always stands until the end of Christmas time (until January 19), then it is removed.

Quantity members of the composition the nativity scene can be different, only Christ, the Mother of God and, as a rule, St. Joseph are obligatory. Most often next to them - a sheep, a calf, sometimes a donkey or other animals. According to legend, the first to hear the news of the birth of Christ were the shepherds, to whom the angel appeared, and hurried to the cave - therefore, all of them often participate in the picture. A few days after Christmas, three wise men, Gaspard, Belshazzar and Melchior, came to the Infant, following the star, bringing rich gifts - gold, myrrh and incense. Sometimes their figures are added later. And above the den is placed the Star of Bethlehem.

All these figurines are not quite dolls. They are not played, this composition is static and serves as a symbol, a reminder of Christmas. Moreover, most often in Russia, instead of figurines of the Holy Family, they simply put the icon of the Nativity in the center.

What to make a nativity scene from? Let's just say - there are many options here, it all depends on your imagination and capabilities. Compositions range from simple to highly professional. But we will talk mainly about simple versions of nativity scenes, which can often be made literally from improvised means.

Basis for the nativity scene

First of all, for the cave itself, we need either a box or a crate. We cover it with paper, most often brown (wood color) or gray (rocks). Sometimes the paper is wrinkled on purpose:

The top is usually dark blue with stars; on top of the nativity scene is the Star of Bethlehem made of foil or gold paper. Traditionally, the star was made voluminous and illuminated from within; but it is quite possible to get by with a reflection of the lights if you decorate the nativity scene with illumination.

Hay or spruce twigs are often placed on the "floor". There are dens made of clay, plastic, using stones. But it is possible to do without a cardboard or wooden base altogether - for example, beautiful fabric drapery can replace it:

Nativity scene with toys

The easiest way to decorate a nativity scene with your own hands is to add figurines of the corresponding animals and angels from toy sets and souvenirs to the holiday icon and decorate the whole composition. A few branches or some dry grass, a candle or a garland, perhaps tinsel - and each nativity scene is unique!

And in this den the figure of an angel is crocheted. There are craftswomen who completely make the whole plot in this technique! But, perhaps, we will limit ourselves to less labor-intensive options ...

Paper nativity scenes

In the manufacture of homemade Christmas nativity scenes, of course, paper technique is most popular. You can draw figures on cardboard or paper, cut them out and fix them on a transverse base:

You can roll the torsos into a cone, glue them together by gluing flat handles, and you get three-dimensional characters. Heads can be flat paper, clay, dough, plastic balls, etc., there is also room for your imagination:

And here, although not a nativity scene in the strict sense of the word, however, the same plot, and amazingly beautiful silhouette technique:

Nativity scenes using plasticine

Plasticine or plastic (the latter is preferable if we want the crib to last for several years) for making crib figurines is also a very affordable and uncomplicated option. Everything here depends only on skill and patience:

Of course, you can add beads, silver paper and other beautiful little things. Sometimes you get real masterpieces!

Or you can simply add plasticine figures of the Magi and shepherds to the existing toy sheep and an angel, also borrowing the gifts of the Magi from dolls:

Clay, salt dough

A little more complex, but essentially similar to plastic and plasticine materials. But clay figures look more “alive” and natural. Clay figures, and sometimes molded from dough, are baked in the oven and then painted - with special paints or ordinary gouache.

Several centuries ago, a wonderful Christmas tradition appeared in Rus' - a puppet show that tells about the birth of the baby Jesus. In those days, people enjoyed watching actors act out scenes from the Bible, and rejoiced at the great miracle all together. If you want to arrange an unforgettable holiday for the kids, then hurry up to make a small home theater, or nativity scene, with your own hands. With it, you can not only decorate your apartment and fill it with magic, but also introduce children to the history of Christmas.

What is a vertep?

Ancient nativity scenes were a large wooden box, made in the form of a two-story house. In the upper part of this building were figures of Mary, Joseph and the baby. On the lower tier, an action took place that told about the evil King Herod and his minions. The heroes of such stories often became contemporaries of the actors: a soldier, a priest, a gypsy, a peasant, and many other characters. In our time, a wonderful tradition of playing such performances is only being revived. You can make a nativity scene with your own hands with the whole family, and then gather at it in the evenings, talk, read books and admire beautiful pictures. These gatherings will remain in the memory of your child for many years and will warm him even in the most difficult times.

There are many ways to create a home. But for all performances, you will need a large box, which will serve as a stage. It is absolutely not necessary to make it from wood or other heavy materials - shoe or from under household appliances are perfect. Paste the future scene inside and out with foil and decorate with foil stars. You can create decorations from natural or waste material, colored paper and Christmas decorations. Figurines of heroes for such a theater are made in various ways. For example, they can be made from paper, clay, or ready-made toys. Some craftsmen create shadow theater, which is very popular with both children and adults. In our article we will tell you how to make a nativity scene with your own hands out of paper. The process of creating such a theater will be no less exciting than watching the performance itself. And if the rest of the family members join the work, then everyone will remember the fun pastime for a long time.

To make the main characters of the home theater, you will need the following materials:

Thin cardboard and paper for drawing.

Scissors and glue.

Paints, colored pencils, felt-tip pens and plasticine.

From cardboard, make small cones that will serve as the basis for the figures of the mother of Jesus, Righteous Joseph and the Magi. Draw faces on paper, cut them out and carefully glue them on the front side. Now you can start coloring. Depict the costumes, make an applique, add plasticine details. The hands of the heroes can also be drawn separately and glued to the body. Remember that a do-it-yourself crib is not an exam in fine art, which means that you do not need to strive for ideal shapes and colors. Make this process a pleasure and enjoy the work that unites and brings your whole family together.

Animal figurines

Remember who surrounded the divine infant in the first hours of his life. Figures of sheep and donkeys can be drawn on paper and placed on a stable stand so that they can be easily moved. If you know how to sculpt from clay or dough, then make animals from these materials.

baby figurine

Doing it with your own hands, do not forget about the main hero of the occasion - the newborn Jesus. To depict a manger, you will need a small box of perfume or matches. Paste the cradle with colored film, cut straw from brown paper and stick it on top in random order. Draw a baby figure on paper, color it in and glue it to the box. Install a manger in the most honorable place, and hang over them, which two thousand years ago announced a great miracle to all the peoples of our planet.

Other ways to make a paper crib

A Christmas composition made according to templates will greatly facilitate your work. It is enough just to save the pictures to your computer, print and transfer them to thick cardboard. Be sure to give the silhouettes of the holy family stability by using coasters made of the same material. To decorate the frame, take a cardboard box, remove one wall and bottom. The roof of the future nativity scene can be made curved, and transparent plastic can be used for the back wall. Glue openwork tape or braid around the perimeter of the front part to close the uneven edges of the box. After that, you can glue the figures to the bottom of the box, and place a star on the roof. Since our work looks a little sketchy, it will look best in Place a candle or a small flashlight behind the composition and turn off the light. Now the picture looks mysterious and evokes thoughts of the most beautiful days in the life of mankind.

How to put on a show

After you have made a Christmas nativity scene with your own hands, be sure to come up with several scenarios for the puppet show. If you want to comply with all the canons of old Russian ideas, then you will have to make a few additional characters. You might want to see an angel in a makeshift cave announcing the birth of Jesus. Or maybe you will draw the evil King Herod, who will order to kill all the babies in the country. In ancient times, children were shown scenes in which a cruel ruler meets death. She appears to the king in the form of a terrible skeleton and throws him into the underworld. The performance may be accompanied by singing, poetry reading, and after its completion there may be a game of questions and answers. Your little ones will enjoy repeating what they have learned this evening and look forward to the next performances.

May this bright holiday give all adults and children real joy, which comes only from childhood! And let it be with us not only on holidays!

Merry Christmas!

I really love Christmas and everything connected with it: carols, family gatherings, small Christmas cribs with tiny figures, delicious kutya, funny people dressed up, Christmas stories ... I also love more modern things related to Christmas: cartoons and good films based on Christmas stories, Christmas wreaths and decor, a finger theater about the birth of a little God.

For several years I have been dreaming of buying a beautiful table nativity scene, but I still don’t find it the way I imagine. So that there are many figurines that can be played with, so that the figurines are made in a childishly naive and at the same time restrained (without smirks and bulging eyes - I came across those too :)

But recently I thought about a drawing of a nativity scene - a Christmas picture that each kid can color in his own way. Parents will help him cut and glue everything correctly. And now a beautiful table nativity scene with your own hands is ready!

Having searched, I, of course, found interesting samples, but still decided to draw my own. Unfortunately, due to my growing tummy and my daughter, who manages my time without permission, my idea was postponed. Just today, my husband and I finally finished our Christmas nativity scene. We hope that at Christmas time he will still have time to please the kids.

Blank-coloring of the scene of the Nativity of Christ

The barn and 14 figurines can be printed, colored, glued onto thick paper, cut and glued in the right places. You get characters that stand on their own.

With such a nativity scene, you can arrange a table performance about the Nativity of Jesus Christ. It seems to me that making a nativity scene together with a child is a great opportunity to tell him about sacred events, about the birth of an unusual Baby, about who the Magi are and why the star shone so brightly. In addition, by coloring the figures, it will be easier for the child to remember who is where, and what role he played in this story.

A few words about gluing:

The figures must be folded along the dotted lines so that the rectangle is at the base - the figure will stand on it. Fix on top with a little glue. Cut out three parts with the image of a barn along continuous lines, stick them on thick paper, bend the edges along the dotted lines, and glue them together. Get a big house. To make it stand steadily, you need to bend it along the dotted lines along the beams.