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Key visual of the exhibition Christmas & Cribs

Christmas & Cribs

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Exhibition

This year’s traditional crib exhibition is all about the Baby Jesus. He is at the heart of the Christian Christmas story, which also makes him the main character in nativity scenes. The way he is depicted has changed over the centuries, shaped by different religious ideas, cultural traditions and shifting decorative art styles. Sometimes the Baby Jesus appears sumptuously dressed and richly adorned, and sometimes as a worshipped holy figure or vulnerable newborn. The nativity scenes and their figures reflect key themes of the Christmas story: humility and poverty, the need for protection and humanity, hope and optimism. As always, the exhibition will be accompanied by a varied supporting programme for the whole family.

Guided tours

Key visual of the exhibition Christmas & Cribs

Christmas & Cribs

Guided tour for private groups through the exhibition "Christmas & Cribs".

Tour: 1 hour

Guided tours can be arranged outside opening hours: Mon between 9.30 am and 6 pm, Tue to Fri between 9.30 am and 7.45 pm. Sat and Sun between 10 am and 5 pm

Registration:  

 2 weeks in advance

Duration:

  

60 minutes; special packages can be offered on request

Group size:

  

max. 25 participants per tour

Languages:

  

English, German, Italian, French. Other offers upon request.

Cost:


 

  

CHF 180 for the guided tour + CHF 10 admission per person

Children up to 16 years free.

For groups of persons with permit N, S, F, the guided tour and admission are free of charge.

accessibility.sr-only.person_card_info Reservations desk

National Museum Zurich
+41 44 218 66 00

Monday till Friday 09:00 - 12:30

Schools

Key visual of the exhibition Christmas & Cribs

Christmas & Cribs – Introductory tour

Kindergarten | Elementary school | Intermediate level | secondary levels I and II

Guided tour of the exhibition «Christmas & Cribs».

1 hour
Guided tours are free of charge for school classes from Switzerland.

Guided tours in English can be arranged, even outside opening hours. Guided tours are free of charge for school classes from Switzerland.

Booking:  

at least 2 weeks in advance

Duration:

  

1 hour guided tours, other services by prior arrangement

Group size:

  

max. 25 people

Cost:
 

  

Guided tours for school classes from Switzerland are free of charge.

accessibility.sr-only.person_card_info Reservations desk

National Museum Zurich
+41 44 218 66 00

Monday till Friday 09:00 - 12:30

Blog articles

Wooden nativity scenes from the Bernese Oberland

Andrej Abplanalp

12. December 2018

Wooden nativity scenes from Brienz have a long tradition in Switzerland. The original design was created by Hans Huggler-Wyss in 1915.

George, Martin, Nicholas – timeless humanity

Kurt Messmer

4. December 2020

The legends of the saints are written without footnotes. They can’t be checked and verified. The significance of these legends lies in the moral ideal that lives on in elaborate portrayals as a gentle entreaty to follow their saintly example.

The story of a Christmas carol

Alexander Rechsteiner

24. December 2018

Over 200 years ago, ‘Silent Night, Holy Night’ was performed for the first time. Thanks to its moving message and captivating melody, it is one of the world’s most popular Christmas carols.

© Alamy
All blog posts

Media

There will be no media conference for this exhibition.

Please contact the media service for individual appointments, guided tours and/or interviews.

accessibility.sr-only.person_card_info National Museum Zurich press contact

National Museum Zurich
+41 44 218 65 64

Christmas & Cribs

National Museum Zurich | 13.11.2026 - 3.1.2027
published on 13.11.2026

Baby Jesus is depicted in many different ways: sometimes lying naked on straw, sometimes sitting on his mother’s lap, and sometimes dressed as a king blessing people. This year’s traditional crib exhibition is all about the central figure in the Christmas story, showcasing the different ways he has been portrayed over the centuries and across cultures.

The biblical stories about Jesus’s birth leave a great deal of room for interpretation, and so artists have used their imagination to fill the gaps. As a result, cribs have been created that reflect not only religious beliefs, but also social values, feelings about family, and local traditions.

This variety is reflected in some striking exhibits: on a late medieval household altar, Baby Jesus lies defenceless on the cold ground. By contrast, a group of figures, which are around 600 years old and on public display for the first time, portrays him as a cheerful toddler with Mary and the Three Kings. Some examples of cribs from Peru, Brazil and Canada illustrate how the Christmas story is rooted in different contexts and ways of life.

The nativity scenes and their figures not only tell the story of Jesus’s birth, they also relate a tale of humanity, care, poverty and hope. The exhibition also includes historical Christmas tree decorations, a musical journey through the tradition of crib songs and a varied supporting programme for the whole family.

Documents

Images

Cheerful Baby | © © Swiss National Museum
Cheerful Baby

This six-hundred-year-old group of figures is a small treasure, and on public display for the first time. It shows a deeply human scene, typical of medieval art. Cheerfully, God’s Only Son reaches out for the shining gold in the casket of one of the Three Wise Men, who has removed his crown. Adoration of the Three Wise Men, around 1400/20, Dominikanerinnenkloster Maria Zuflucht, Weesen

© Swiss National Museum

On the Cold Floor | © © Swiss National Museum
On the Cold Floor

The left wing of this small altar from a private home shows Baby Jesus lying naked on the floor. In the central panel, Mary is nursing her son; on the right, Baby Jesus, sitting on his mother’s lap, welcomes the Three Wise Men. Family altar, probably Basel, 1484, Swiss National Museum

© Swiss National Museum

Christmas Tree Decorations | © © Swiss National Museum
Christmas Tree Decorations

In Christian tradition, Christmas trees represent the Tree of Paradise. Early tree decorations included apples, nuts, and pastries. Over time, these were replaced by elaborate and playful decorations. The religious connotation has become secondary – today, Baby Jesus travels in a car, boat, or plane.

© Swiss National Museum

Travel Images and Collectibles | © © Swiss National Museum
Travel Images and Collectibles

On travels, Christian believers often rely on such tiny Christ Childs in neatly designed little boxes or capsules for saying their prayers. The artistically crafted, miniature cribs are also popular collectibles. Baby Jesus in artificial nutshell, 19th c., Weihnachtssammlung Doris Albrecht-Mäder, Männedorf

© Swiss National Museum

Nativity Scene as a Plaything | © © Swiss National Museum
Nativity Scene as a Plaything

Apart from its religious and cultural significance, Christmas has become a commercial event today. Some nativity sets now come in the shape of toys. Nativity set, Playmobil, 2018, Spielzeug Welten Museum Basel

© Swiss National Museum

Noble People in Ruins | © © Swiss National Museum
Noble People in Ruins

During the age of Baroque, the Church sought to bring the Christian faith to life through splendour and opulence. This Neapolitan nativity scene of 2006 revisits this idea of the 17th and 18th centuries. Mary and Joseph look noble amidst the ruins. The Three Wise Men are dressed in fine clothes. Mario Capuano, Spielzeug Welten Museum Basel

© Swiss National Museum

True-to-life Images | © © Swiss National Museum
True-to-life Images

This late medieval figure shows Mary as the Queen of Heaven standing on a sickle moon. The abstract symbolism is a reference to the apocalypse. However, the artistic rendition is quite lifelike: to Jesus’s delight, his mother carries him in her arms on his tummy. Sickle-moon Madonna, early 16th c., Swiss National Museum

© Swiss National Museum

The Holy Nuclear Family | © © Swiss National Museum
The Holy Nuclear Family

In this work, the three members of the Holy Family merge to form an intimate entity. The sculpture radiates support, protection, and love. The ideal of the nuclear family found growing acceptance in the 19th century. At that time, tender depictions of the Holy Family were particularly popular. Susana Polac (1915-1991), Holy Family, around 1985, Kunstsammlung des Klosters Einsiedeln

© Swiss National Museum

Christmas in Burlap | © © Swiss National Museum
Christmas in Burlap

Workers on a Brazilian coffee plantation made this burlap nativity scene in the 1920s. Forced labour and poverty were commonplace in plantation life. This lends the scene a special significance – after all, Jesus cared deeply for the poor and disadvantaged. Nativity scene, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 1920s, KrippenWelt Stein am Rhein

© Swiss National Museum

A Couple in Love | © © Swiss National Museum
A Couple in Love

In the narratives, the emotional relationship between Mary and Joseph remains undefined. All their affection is for Baby Jesus. From the 19th century onward, when love marriage became an ideal, the focus shifted to emotions. In this modern Peruvian nativity scene, Mary’s kiss bears evidence of her love for Joseph. Maximiano Ochante Lozano (b. 1959), Holy Family, Ayacucho, Peru, around 1990, KrippenWelt Stein am Rhein

© Swiss National Museum

Baby Bump | © © Swiss National Museum
Baby Bump

Pregnant Mary is shown wearing flowing robes, her baby belly barely visible. On some medieval sculptures, the baby is painted on the belly. Occasionally, it contains a removable figure of Jesus inside. Hilario Mendívil (1929-1977), Pregnant Mary, around 1960/70, KrippenWelt Stein am Rhein

© Swiss National Museum

A view of the exhibition | © © Swiss National Museum
A view of the exhibition

© Swiss National Museum

A view of the exhibition | © © Swiss National Museum
A view of the exhibition

© Swiss National Museum

A view of the exhibition | © © Swiss National Museum
A view of the exhibition

© Swiss National Museum

Please note that the downloading and use of images is reserved exclusively for journalists, teachers and other authorised parties. Images are only permitted to be used for the purposes of reporting on exhibitions, provided the captions and reference to copyright are included, or for teaching purposes. Many thanks!

National Museum Zurich press contact

National Museum Zurich
+41 44 218 65 64 medien@nationalmuseum.ch

Exhibition imprint

  • Overall management Denise Tonella
  • Project direction and Concept Andreas Rüfenacht
  • Scenography Alex Harb
  • Advisory Committee Roman Aebersold, Heidi Amrein, Beat Högger, Sabrina Médioni, Denise Tonella, Simon Wirth
  • Project Controlling Sabrina Médioni
  • Cultural Services and Museum Education Jörg Ramel, Lisa Engi, Vera Humbel
  • Technical Management Debbie Sledsens
  • Exhibition Construction Ira Allemann, Lia Bossi, Marc Hägeli, Philippe Leuthardt, Dave Schwitter
  • Conservation management Gaby Petrak
  • Conservation and Mounting of Objects Dana Freyberg, Sara Longrée, Gaby Petrak, Ulrike Rothenhäusler, Martina Schönberg
  • Object Logistics Christian Affentranger, Magdalena Baranya, Fabi Bodmer, Simon d’Hollosy, Reto Hegetschweiler, Nicolas Müller
  • Loans Cristina Kaufmann, Laura Mosimann, Claudio Stefanutto
  • Photography Jörg Brandt, Felix Jungo
  • IT | Web Alex Baur, Thomas Bucher, Ueli Heiniger, Pasquale Pollastro, Danilo Rüttimann, Daniel Werder
  • Video Installation Georg Lendorff, Zürich
  • Marketing and Communication Anna-Britta Maag, Sebastiano Mereu, Carole Neuenschwander, Alexander Rechsteiner
  • Advertising Graphics Roli Hofer
  • Translations Nadège Jauch, Massimo Piras, Nigel Stephenson, Coline Thomas

Items generously loaned by

  • Alfred Dünnenberger-Hager, Baar
  • Kloster Heiligkreuz, Cham
  • KrippenWelt Stein am Rhein
  • Spielzeug Welten Museum Basel
  • Weihnachtssammlung Doris Albrecht-Mäder, Männedorf