Salisbury Community-Based Creche
A newer tradition was created using historical creche styling.
In very late fall 2008, an idea was floated to create a creche that was a community effort. It came together quickly, and folks then found themselves in a bitterly frigid garage in mid-December, rushing to finish up the project before Christmas. It happened and without frostbite!
The concept was to create a Folk Creche in the manner of the early medieval creches, which celebrated Christmas using scenery, materials, and dress consistent with the citizenry of the day, to reconnect people to the original event. The concept for the Salisbury community creche was to do the same, but stylistically reflect colonial New England in some way instead. An Americana Folk Creche was created.
Location. It was hoped to find a spot where many passing through could see it. Though not a project of the Salisbury Congregational Church, they have generously permitted the use of its front lawn for the display. It is located near the crossroads of Route 127 and Route 4 in Salisbury, New Hampshire. There has been a Christmas Caroling gathering that occurs before Christmas at the creche with a warm-up invite inside the Church meeting room.
It was not a church or town project, but a variety of folks from both came together to make it happen. Interestingly, they are of various spiritual persuasions, Catholics, Buddhists, Protestants, and religiously unaffiliated, and it was created and maintained out of a labor of love with great respect and appreciation for the first Christmas and its meaning.
Often in the early winter evenings, cars will stop and people will gaze in.
The Church parking lot serves as a school bus stop, and the children delight in the creche year after year.
It is a community project:
Materials: Joe Garneau of Franklin, NH, who donated the building materials
Carver: A local chainsaw artist who carved the figures in folk art styling.
Fabric: Another volunteer dressed the figures in simple handmade garments.
Artist: A mural backdrop was painted. Instead of 3 wise men, 3 moose are coming forth, and bears and animals are approaching to view the baby Jesus. The landscape is a New England setting reflecting the rural nature of our town. Folk angels decorate the headboard.
Carpentry Labor: donated to construct the creche.
Assembly & Storage: Volunteers maintain it, reassemble, disassemble, and store it each year.
We do not have any record of a community creche in our town until now; however, if you have any information, please contact us. contact@salisburyhistoricalsociety.org