Christmas crib

Recreating the gifted barn where Mother Mary gave birth to the ‘Saviour of the World’ is part of Christmas festivities across the world.

During Christmas churches and Christian homes across Kerala will have a crib (pulkoodu in local language) that depicts the birth of the Holy Son.

Making Pulkoodu
Locally available materials go into the making of a crib. The bottom of the crib will be lined with hay and the roof is made of grass. The recreated mangers will be decorated with stars, balloons and festoons.

Clay models of Joseph, Mary, angels and shepherds will be placed in the crib on the previous day of Christmas. Sheep and reindeers, the gifted animals that had a glance of the Holy baby, also find a place in the recreated stables.

And the bells ring The Holy Baby is placed in the crib only on the Christmas Eve. In Churches this is done during the Holy Midnight Mass; a grand ceremony led by the priest. At homes devotees place Child Christ in the crib just after their return from the church.

Shown in the video is the Christmas crib displayed at the LMS church, located in the heart of the city of Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India.