Nativity scenes at the Monastery of Santa Maria de Seiça
Maria Cavaco Silva, who was hosted by the Mayor of Figueira da Foz, Pedro Santana Lopes, was accompanied by her husband, the former Prime Minister and President of the Republic, Aníbal Cavaco Silva. Together with dozens of guests, including a group of around 30 members of the Vespa Club Bom Sucesso, she began with a musical performance by the Duo of the Orquestra Clássica do Centro with Soprano Regina Freire.
A militant preseptic
Maria Cavaco Silva, who defines herself as ‘a militant nativity scene collector’, was very happy to see her cribs on display and emphasised that the municipality of Figueira da Foz was ahead of other organisations and had ‘the best pieces’ for this exhibition. The collector was presented by the municipality with a nativity scene to add to her collection, by Figueira da Foz ceramicist Fátima Filomena Braz. The artist Carlos Moço also gave Maria Cavaco Silva a nativity scene, linked to the traditions of the Buarcos seafarers.
The former first lady said that she was sad to have the cribs in storage. They are in the custody of the Museum of the Presidency.
One of her dreams is ‘to have a space where they are permanently on display,’ she said.
Very honoured
Pedro Santana Lopes, who was very honoured to receive Maria Cavaco Silva’s cribs at the national monument, assured her that if she doesn’t find a space in Lisbon to exhibit the collection, he will try to find one in Figueira da Foz.
The exhibition, which will be on display until 26 January 2025, reflects, above all, the very special way in which the representation of the birth of Jesus Christ permeates the Christian faith, which inaugurated a time of greater closeness between God and humanity, and how pagan cultures assimilated this same representation by introducing shepherds and animals – symbols linked to nature and rituals of fertility, protection and abundance – into their nativity scenes.
The Monastery of Santa Maria de Seiça is open to the public from Thursday to Sunday, from 14h00 to 18h00. Admission is paid.