Domuspatris

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DOMUS PATRIS

Puppet Theater

Christmas performance for children [1:27]

Puppet-show booths have existed in Russia since the 17th century. The origins of Christmas puppet theater go back much further, however. In Ukraine, these little theaters have been around since the 11th century. In fact, it was Little Russia that gave Russia this unusual tradition. The Ukrainian puppet-booth theater, in turn, was a successor to the Polish szopka. The tradition of Christmas puppet shows arrived in Poland from the Catholic culture of Europe.

History of the Puppet Theater

Around the beginning of the 10th century in Rome, it became traditional to show in churches scenes from the life of Christ. Such a show would continue for several days. But the Nativity scene was never performed by people. It was present in the church for the whole pageant, from the Birth to the Death of the Savior. The Virgin Mary, Joseph and the Infant Christ were depicted with dolls, which were crafted by famous sculptors. The doll that won...

The Puppet Theater in Russia

The word vertep, translated from Old Slavonic, means cave. This word, which was preserved through Church Slavonic, over time has obtained a more profound meaning. According to legend, Jesus Christ was born in a cave. That is, the cave in which the Savior was born would have been called a vertep.

A further transformation of the word took place in the 17th century, with an innovation that came from Western Europe to Poland before settling down in...