U Presèpie all'use nueste Living Nativity

A living nativity «done our way»

In the heart of the Bari Province, in Cassano delle Murge, the Christmas season features an event that has become a true tradition: «U Presèpie all'use nueste», a local dialect expression meaning «the nativity scene done our way». This is not a static display, but a widespread living nativity that occupies the alleys, courtyards, and even the homes of the town's oldest district, recreating the atmosphere of daily life from times gone by.

A journey through ancient trades

The route begins in Piazza Rossani and winds through the streets of the historic center, specifically between via Mastrocanta and via Carlo Chimienti. Along the way, visitors encounter dozens of costumed actors who bring ancient trades and scenes of Murgia peasant life to life:

• the embroiderer and the tailor, hunched over their work;
• the cobbler and the blacksmith;
• the washerwoman and the shopkeeper;
• the chestnut roaster, the carpenter, and the bagpiper who accompanies the path with his Christmas melodies.

The unique feature of this nativity scene is its intimate scale: the re-enactment «enters people's homes», transforming the domestic spaces of the historic center into authentic scenes of life and directly involving the community.

A community celebration

The event is promoted by local associations, including the Pro Loco Apulia Country and the volunteers of Fratres Santa Maria Assunta, and is part of the broader Cassano Christmas calendar, filled with lights, music, markets, and popular traditions. It is a moment when the entire town mobilizes to rediscover its roots and offer visitors, including those from neighboring towns in the Bari metropolitan area, an evocative and free experience.

Cassano delle Murge and its identity

Located on the Murgia plateau in Puglia, Cassano delle Murge boasts a historic center with narrow alleys and stone houses, the ideal setting for a re-enactment that celebrates collective memory and traditional crafts. «U Presèpie all'use nueste» is not just a Christmas event, but a way to tell the story of the town, its history, and its people.