Advent is a special time of year. This year, the exhibition of traditional nativity scenes at the National Museum Zurich will be focusing on cribs created by female crafters. The figures are complemented by a display of historical advent calendars and an extensive accompanying programme of events and activities.

This year, the traditional Christmas exhibition at the National Museum in Zurich will be showcasing manger scenes crafted by women. Women play an important role as designers, bringing their own special flavour to the diverse range of cribs. They use a wide variety of materials and techniques to breathe life into their figures and landscapes. Wood sculptors Camilla Braunger and Márcia Bieri, who have dedicated themselves to the traditional art of Brienz wood carving, have created two exhibits especially for the exhibition. Hanny Roduner’s charming fabric figures delight viewers with their lovingly crafted details. And the landscapes created by Lucette Pauchard-Remy feature a mix of Advent and folk customs. A porcelain artist from Bulle, Lucette Pauchard-Remy, skilfully blends elements of traditional Gruyère painting (Sennentumsmalerei) with the story of Jesus’ birth, creating a very distinctive world in her enchanting works.

To go with the exhibition of approximately 20 cribs, a large collection of historical advent calendars is also on display. For more than 100 years, various forms of calendars have made the long countdown to Christmas more bearable. A special focus is on calendars with St Nicholas subjects. The exhibition is accompanied by a diverse supporting program and offers entertainment for the whole family.