What are szopki? Szopki (szopka in singular, pronounced "SHOPE-kah") are, in a word, manger scenes. Of course, judging by the looks of what you see on this page, they certainly may not look like it.
However, looking more closely, you will see the elements of a typical manger scene...
...most of the time, that is.
Szopki come in all shapes and sizes...
...and are made of all sorts of materials.
(This one happens to represent a Polish mountain home from the Tatra mountains.)
However, a proper szopka has some very important characteristics...
1. It ought to be made with colorful foil candy wrappers, preferably from one of the local chocolate manufacturers.
2. It ought to contain three towers. These towers ought to represent elements of local architecture. (Compare the towers on the szopki with the church behind them.)
These important features are judged, along with the creativity and quality of the craftsmanship.
People of all ages participate in the contest, but children and teenagers make up the vast majority of the participants.
Just about everybody gets involved either in making szopki or in coming to see the masterpieces that others have made.
The judging and open-air display of the szopki takes place at the base of the Mickiewiecz statue on the main market square every December 3. This crowd you see here was the early crowd. It gets worse as the day progresses.
More examples of fine artistry...
