The historic event of local craftsmanship will be held on Sunday 5 September in a special version entirely dedicated to a historical project for the whole of Carnia: sculpting the wooden statues that will decorate the nativity scene in Vatican City in Christmas 2022
SUTRIO. The first Sunday of September is traditionally dedicated to crafts in the upper But valley. It is in fact since the early nineties that, at the end of the summer, the village of Sutrio becomes the fulcrum of one of the most popular events for visitors to the high Carnic lands: Magic of Wood. The 2020 edition was not held due to the limitations imposed by the pandemic and this year the situation certainly does not allow us to return to the ancient glories.
However, extraordinary news, the result of a long journey that began in 2018, filled the inhabitants of the village in the upper But valley with enthusiasm and thus provided an opportunity to create a special edition of the Magic of Wood 2021 event.
It is in fact a novelty of last week that Sutrio was officially chosen, by the Vatican Secretariat of State, to set up the crib in St. Peter’s Square for Christmas 2022! The more attentive will know that every year the Vatican City hosts a different life-size nativity scene right in St. Peter’s Square, commissioned by the Vatican and built each year by a different client. 2022 will therefore be the year of Sutrio and for this reason the wood artisans have already been put to work and all the inhabitants of Sutrio have embraced the idea of creating an extraordinary edition of the Magic of Wood to celebrate this historic event.
“Artistic craftsmanship is the bearer of knowledge, skills, talents and skills that generate that authentic value linked to the identity, roots, history and traditions of a community and its territory – declares Sergio Emidio Bini, Regional Councilor for Activities production and tourism. Know-how craftsman which also represents a working model synonymous with a wise and conscious use of natural resources, an environmental sustainability that also through reuse can lead to good practices in the circular economy.
This event, which highlights the peculiarities of the vast artisan heritage, turns the spotlight on a strategic resource such as wood, which can become even more a key element for sustainable development. With this in mind, the opportunity given to Sutrio to set up the nativity scene in St. Peter’s Square for Christmas 2022 represents an important opportunity to introduce our workers and Friuli Venezia Giulia to everything, even from a tourist point of view “. What awaits us will in fact be a special edition, with a reduced number of attractions precisely for maximum health protection, but exciting because it will be possible to witness the long work that Sutrio will bring to Rome next year. The program includes only one effective day of the event: on Sunday 5 September the streets of the village will come alive with stands and stalls, including the resale of handicrafts and products of the agri-food chain. But it is in the previous five days that the real attraction of this traditional event will be held: the Wood Sculpture Symposium.
Starting from Wednesday 1 September, five artists from all over the region will perform in the streets of Sutrio, trying their hand at creating the wooden sculptures that will then populate the nativity scene in the shadow of the great Vatican Obelisk. A satisfaction that is remarked by the mayor of Sutrio Manlio Mattia: “It is a historic result for our community and for the entire Friuli Venezia Giulia Region. Three years ago it seemed an impossible dream, but thanks to the enthusiasm and tenacity of the working group we were able to carry out a project that was welcomed by the Vatican by virtue of its expressive power and its intrinsic message of life and hope. It is a great honor for all of us to be able to accompany the celebrations of Christmas 2022 through our wood, our work and our culture. Thus a great project is launched that will bring our Nativity scene to St. Peter’s Square in Rome, a symbolic place of our faith. “
The inauguration of the event and the presentation of the project in the presence of the authorities is scheduled for Saturday 4 September at L’Ort di Sior Matie in Sutrio. Admission to the event on Sunday 5th September will instead be allowed upon presentation of the valid Green Pass.
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