Eduardo Basso


STREET CRIB OF EVORAMONTE * (PORTUGAL)

A Case of Peace, Love and Solidarity

An event not always accomplishes rigorously the objectives for which it was thought. But the Street Crib of Evoramonte is, surely, a good example of how it is possible to overcome those objectives.
 
Indeed, the original idea of  making this Crib was laid on the linking to Peace usually associated with Christmas time and with the historical heritage of the place based on the signature of the Peace`s Convention which put an end to the unique Civil War occurred in Portugal in almost its 900 years of History and that took place in 1834.
 
The own idea`s notion and the practical way that assumed its “making of” (construction), were good examples of how the collective (community) work of a certain group of inhabitants can overcome not only the technical knowledge of each one, but also how they can keep and strengthen the linking between the inhabitants of this particular place and its Architectonic, Historic and referring to the local Landscape Patrimony.
 
The tradition of the cribs and of the Christmas Celebrations is tightly tied to popular ancestral traditions, but the Alentejo`s land is possibly the Portuguese region where such celebrations assume a more popular character and probably it is also the most pagan one. It is only needed to go through some songs` Lyrics of  Christmas popular traditions of this region, so that this idea would be proved. Therefore, more than making a similar crib to many others, it would be necessary to find the best way in order to correspond to the individual and to the collective interests of its authors to the social traditions including the religious ones.  This way, the form we found to meet our objectives stood on 3 basic guidelines:
-   to ally the tradition of the crib to Historic, Architectonic and referring to the local Landscape 
    Patrimony where it will be made;
-   to organize its “making of” (construction) in a way that it will give gathering to each individual 
    contribution, to each one`s knowledge, bearing in mind that the majority of the volunteer had and 
    still don`t have any technical specific qualifications or skills to do the work that it will be necessary to
    do;
-   to strengthen the linking between the population and their Material and Immaterial Patrimony.

The first objective which was accomplished was the one that integrated the Street Crib in a more significantly global event called “Evoramonte – Peace` s Castle” and it was also added another one by the placement of crib`s scenes in studied places in order to influence the visitors to go along the best examples of the local material Patrimony.

The second idea was perhaps the best one which was achieved – all of the Crib`s elements (human pieces) were built by a community team and in Evoramonte.  Some of them built the iron`s frames, others made their “stuffing” and painting.  During the process it happened something that will probably be one of the most important characteristics of it: the faces of the human figures of the Crib are “clones” of inhabitants` faces which were made in glass filaments over plaster`s moulds.
 
Finally, it was possible to improve the relationships among the local people, their Patrimony and also it was possible to see again the joy stamped on their faces when they noticed that many visitors were on purpose in Evoramonte to see their work during all the period of time it was on exhibition.

The Street Crib of Evoramonte will be on public exhibition, this year, for the consecutive fourth time in four years. From the first time and its original idea with 10 figures (elements) we reached the 27 figures, including reproductions of some of less known elements of the village`s Patrimony.  In the last three years, the Street Crib of Evoramonte has become a new ex-libris of this historical village and one of the main incentives to visit this region in Alentejo at Christmas and in the End of each Year.

Eduardo Basso
President of the Friends of Evoramonte`s Castle League (LACE) **

* EVORAMONTE  is a small administrative division and a small village of  the municipality of Estremoz ( district of Evora, Alentejo) with not much more than 800 inhabitants.

**  Organizational official association responsible for the event “ Evoramonte-Castle of Peace”.


Imaginary tour around Evoramonte



OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

  • The LACE (Evoramonte`s Castle Friends League) was founded in the year 2000 through a public deed held in the Tower of the Castle of Evora Monte with the aim of “civic, cultural and social intervention, using all legal means to afford the defence, the dynamization and the valorization of the architectonic, historical and cultural patrimony related with the Castle of Evoramonte”.  To get it, it is allowed “to promote and make, inside and outside the Castle, debates, conferences, concerts, theatre and cinema performances, teaching and learning courses, shows or entertainment activities, parties, meetings, legal games, funds`gathereings, to render honour to someone and every activity that is conform to its objectives.”
  • The LACE has been promoting a lot of activities and events since its foundation to accomplish its aims:
EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES THAT TOOK PLACE
  • 1st National Presentation of the Concert of Medieval Music “TE-DEUM” by the group “Music Flowers” (St. Peter`s Church).
  • Reveillon 2000/2001 which gathered more than 500 people in the Tower of the Castle
  • Participation in the Quizz about the Euro (currency), in Brussels, promoted by the European Parliament (2001).
  • Treaty (Convention) of Evora Monte with varied activities and events about the introduction of the Euro (currency) and the Euro`s Fair of the Schools with the participation of every official public and private schools of the Basic Grade from all over the municipalities (councils) of Estremoz (2002).
  • Reveillon for the 3rd Millenium (2002).
  • Musical Festival “Evenings in the Castle” (6 concerts).
  • Festival of Arts and Music “Evenings in the Castle” (10 concerts).
  • Celebrations of the Treaty`s Signature (yearly).
  • Activity “Evoramonte – Castle with Life” with the duration of 10 days which included exhibitions, conferences and cultural shows (2 editions).
  • Activity “Evoramonte – Castle of Peace” which included a Street`s Crib with figures and elements totally made in Evora Monte by a team of its inhabitants and varied entertainment activities related with the period of time it took place – Christmas and New Year`s Eve.
  • “The Imaginary Tour of Evoramonte”, which is a theme`s route that shows in ten scenes taken place in ten different places in Evoramonte, like theatre on the street, where the actors and all the people who show off are all dressed according to the different historical periods. They are all amateurs and inhabitants of Evoramonte.
NEW ACTIVITY

19th December 2009 till 6th January 2010:
Evoramonte, Portugal

The 4th edition of the event Evoramonte – Castle of Peace, will take place in the Castle between the 19th December 2009 and the 6th January 2010.
During this period of time, it will be settled in the already traditional “Street`s Crib” which will count on with new elements representing the Architectonic Patrimony of the village.
The LACE (Evoramonte`s Castle Friends League), the event`s organizer, will invest this year on a stronger Castle`s animation, mainly on week-ends, on Christmas Day and on New Year`s Day with puppets` shows, musical performances and concerts, varied exhibitions and street shows for entertainment.