Come and See the Moving Crib- Far removed from the slick consumerism and the harsh commercialisation of the festive season, the Moving Crib in St. Martin Apostolate in Parnell Square in Dublin is still, for many people, one of the most charming aspects of Christmas in the City. It has fascinated generations of children from Dublin and all over Ireland, and 50 years after it first began it still draws the crowds. In this age of computer games and countless other attractions, the Moving Crib, with its old world charm, is a godsend to parents concerned with teaching their children about the birth of Christ. The real meaning of Christmas is conveyed in an unforgettable and fascinating manner. It has been described in the various newspapers and on the radio over the years as ‘the best free show for children over the festive period’, ‘one of the nicest sights in Dublin’, ‘very charming. From the last week in November until the first week in January it is visited by many family groups and surprisingly by quite a few adults who drop in by themselves to see what has been a ‘must’ for many people, especially Dubliners, over all these Christmases.
What is it?
The Moving Crib is like an expanded Nativity Play going back to Adam and Eve and finishing after the crib scene with the young Jesus teaching the Doctors in the Temple.
There are over 100 figures in the Crib arranged in 14 different tableaux. They cover various episodes of the Old and New Testament. The figures themselves are about a metre high, moulded in papier-mache and dressed in miniature clothes. Concealed motors control the movements of the arms, head and legs. All of these figures, motors, clothing etc. come from a world famous firm in Germany.
It is one other way of preaching the gospel
There is obviously a certain amount of work involved in setting it up and maintaining it and providing security personnel for the entire period. Is it worth it? Just listening to parents with their young children or teachers going around the crib with a group of children and patiently explaining to their charges the meaning of each scene makes it all worth while. The gospel indeed is preached in many different ways.
