The UN-FOE-PRAE (Universalis Foederatio Praesepistica), International Federation of Nativity Scenes, founded in 1952, is the entity that encompasses numerous nativity scene federations from more than 20 countries, aiming to maintain, revitalize and promote the nativity scene tradition and its artistic diversity, favoring its progress and development: “the nativity Scene, culture, art and tradition”.
On the part of Spain, the associated entities are:
Federación Española de Belenistas
Federació Catalana de Pessebristes
Asociación de Belenistas de Guipuzcoa
Associació de Pessebristes de Barcelona
At the meeting held in Rome on March 4th, 2017 the proposal presented by these entities regarding the celebration of the International Congress 2023 in Seville – Andalusia – Spain was approved.
The motto chosen from this Congress is Franciscus 1223-2023, in commemoration of the 800th anniversary of the first nativity scene that St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of nativity scenes, built in the cave of Greccio (Italy).
Considering the tradition and roots of this art in Andalousie, this Congress will certainly be a great step for the close declaration of Belenismo as an Asset of Cultural Interest of Andalusia, Intangible Heritage by the Ministry of Culture of Spain, and an important impulse for Nativity Scenes to be declared Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.
