Whether it's the burning mountains or the world of clubs, traditions are an integral part of everyday life here. You can feel that at Christmas too, especially when it comes to the appropriate decoration. When Hans Mader talks about nativity scenes, his eyes light up. He likes to show off his lovingly crafted artwork: in his workshop in Lermoos, Tyrolean nativity scenes come in all versions, from the root to the box to the snowman. The Tyrolean has built between 60 and 80 different types of nativity scenes in his lifetime.
'It's got to be original, not straight.' That's very important to Mader. 'The old farmhouses are like that. There's a plank hanging down here, there's a wall,' he says. He points to the many loving details: a carved rake here, a wood hoe there. 'And here, look, there's even the laundry hanging on the balcony.'
Since his youth, the Tyrolean has been passionate about making cribs: "I always wanted to make cribs from old root canals," says Mader, who since 1995 has been chairman of the crib association Loisachtal with around 80 members from Lermoos, Ehrwald and Biberwier. "Our pioneer was Walter Bader, who started the crib association," Mader says. In August, he started "to tingle," says Mader. Then I go to my workshop and think about what I could build now.
The professional is happy to pass on his knowledge and enthusiasm. In October, Mader usually starts his crib construction course in the workshop of the Lermooser School, which he holds every three years with his helpers Sebastian Wacker, Siegfried Tabelander, Reinhard Schönherr and Alexander Haas.
Very popular: the home crib
'At the beginning, I always ask where your nativity scene comes from and what do you want for one,' he says. 'There's the archetype, the oriental nativity scene, but we mostly want native nativity scenes, Tyrolean nativity scenes and now especially the snow nativity scene.' For the snow, Styrofoam is sanded and primed - several times in succession. 'Then it's sprinkled with mica to make it sparkle.'
The size of the nativity scene depends on the figures. The right scale is important. Mader: "We also have templates, if you change them a little bit, it looks completely different. The figures are bought or you have them carved.
"It's important that the nativity scene has a visible place at home, that the Holy Family and what's going on are in the foreground and that it shouldn't be overloaded," says Mader. The building material is mostly found in nature: "I always say, look in the forest to see if you can find old sunburnt wood or weathered branches," says Mader, "and that's what makes the nativity scene. "That makes the natty look so quaint."" In search of the building materials, he and his helpers climb up to 2,000 metres into the Kaunertal valley to fetch Hirschheiderich for the course. Protruding tree roots, which he cuts, are drilled and the green leaves of the heather are put into it. This creates deceptively real trees and shrubs.
The mountains are made from old beech logs that Mader finds in the forest. "We have them shot out by a gunsmith," Mader says. "They tear it to shreds, and you can make the mountains out of it." Mader himself found a large tree root that he cut off vigorously. In it, he carved the nativity scene halfway up. From below, an ornate staircase leads up with sheep and shepherds.
The details make the crib a work of art
The large nativity scene in his workshop is also new. It's for an acquaintance, she had previously displayed her figures on a chest of drawers. When it was finished, she said, 'I didn't think it would be so beautiful. Now Christmas is saved.' He points to the ornate nativity scene with a beautiful mountain backdrop, a stream over which a bridge leads, and turns on the shepherd's fire and the lantern. Loving details wherever you look. Mader also cuts and turns ice cones himself out of glass.
The fact that the students have doubts at the beginning about whether their work will turn out to be anything is one of them. Then the team of nativity specialists keeps motivating them, giving tips and helping them out. "At the end of the day, many of them say, "Mei, I never thought my nativity scene would be so beautiful," says Mader. "We're having a lot of fun together."
