Bethlehem Terchová

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Location on map - Bethlehem Terchová
Region: Žilina Region
District: Žilina
City / Municipality: Terchová
Tourist location: Považie - Upper Váh region (Horné Považie)
Category: Bethlehems in Slovakia
Bethlehem Terchová - Slovakia
In Terchová, folk godliness was also impressively reflected in the intangible (singing, music, spoken and written word) and material forms of cultural expressions (crafts, carvers, sculptors ...). An integral part of the Christmas holidays in the Jánošík region (*) is bethlehem installed in the local church since 1977. It is the work of renowned  carvers, designers and electromechanics from Terchová. The author of bethlehem is the well-known carver Štefan Hanuliak.

Together with his coworkers, he conceived it into three parts. The first part shows the "old Terchová" with her crafts and characteristic period colour. The second shows the place of Jesus's  birth "modest Bethlehem", the third "luxurious Jerusalem". The original figures made of plastic and plaster was step by step replaced by the figures made of lime wood - it was the idea of the administrator of the parish, Jozef Šab. Since the end of the 1970s, the creators have used only wood exclusively.

In all its majestic beauty and suggestiveness, the bethlehem will resound during Nativity celebration in the Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius always on the feast day of the God's birth - Christmas Day (December 25, 16.00 h.) The popular "Terchová folk musical", celebrating the birth of a child of God, gradually developed. In the meantime, many first-generation performers have died, a new generation of performers has grown, content has increased, and form has grown.However, the essence of "Nativity" remains preserved, which is appreciated with iron regularity by hundreds of grateful spectators from home and abroad.

Author: Peter Cabadaj

(*) Juraj Jánošík (1688 - 1713) was a famous Slovak robber / padder. He was born near village of Terchová. According to the legend, he robbed nobles and gave the loot to the poor. Jánošík has been the main character of many Slovak literary works and films.

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