In the background palm trees sway in the wind, ox and stand in the stable. And in a feeding trough, visible to all in the foreground, lies a small bundle. Jesus Christ was born – as a Playmobil figure. Not only is the Christ child in the plastic guardian angel church this year, but also the stable and ox and donkey. The toy nativity scene is the focus of a short film and this year it is the alternative to the nativity scene.
It was already clear to the nativity play organizers of the Eichenau-Alling parish association in autumn that due to the corona pandemic, there would probably be no usual performance on December 24th. Organizing rehearsals and performances for a nativity play musical with around 35 participants was inconceivable in view of the pandemic. So you changed saddles, although on Playmobil.
“My children and I had already made small stop-motion films with Playmobil in the spring, so I simply suggested it for a nativity play,” explains initiator Wolfgang Lasar. A stop-motion film is what is most easily explained as a digital flip book made of photos. Countless photos strung together make a film. What originally began as a private pleasure to dispel the lockdown boredom, developed into a collective project of the parish in the months leading up to Christmas.
With the support of the composer Franz Kanefzky, songs were recorded and sung, texts were recorded. The different roles were distributed to children and parents almost like in a real, living nativity scene. Kanefzky also provided the rights to his composed Christmas carols for the video. “We made a radio play with pictures, so to speak,” explains Lasar. Instead of costumes, they worked on the mini-sets. And even a crib with Playmobil figures was purchased.
In particular, the project also had a social motivation. “That really kept our group together,” says Lasar. The ten to 15 families who were regularly involved in organizing children’s worship services would have had a common task again. And the children were busy with the texts as well as with the sets and film production.
On Christmas Eve from 3 p.m., the Playmobil nativity scene will be played on the Youtube page of the parish association Eichenau-Alling be visible. Normally you would go out for a walk, attend the children’s Christian mass, the nativity play and then come home to give presents, says Lasar. Much of it could not take place now, but: “That the film is an occasion to let Christmas Day take place in the usual way, that is my secret wish.”
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