‘Devil’ puppet from the Nativity scene

In popular tradition, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day were solemn celebrations spent with the closest family. No visits were made or received on that day. It was not until St Stephen's Day that the period of games, meetings and receptions began. It was then that visits began, and the first festive guests appeared in homes, including carol singers with nativity scenes.

In the Lublin region, Bronisław Muszyński (1860-1942), a crib-maker, was active between the wars and at the beginning of the war. Lovingly fond of folklore, with a nativity scene and inherent harmony, he travelled around Łęczna and its suburbs, as well as the neighbouring villages, giving performances. He was an extremely picturesque and eye-catching character - "of short height, stocky, grey-haired, moustached old man, stall-keeper and painter, member of the local Voluntary Fire Brigade. He could be seen on any day off wearing the uniform of a veteran of 1863, with boots with uppers, a pipe in his teeth and a fireman's helmet on his head. Such a figure was seen in and around Łęczna in 1925-1940".

Nativity plays took place mainly in Łęczna, Milejów, Puchaczów, Ludwin, Kijany and Czemierniki. The invitations were so numerous that Muszyński had to create a special notebook in which he would write down the towns, date and time of departure, at which time the sleigh with two or three pairs of horses would arrive, so that he and the entire ensemble could leave for the performances in comfort and "in style". Director Muszyński, as he was called, employed a permanent team of performers: his daughter Marianna, Zofia Rybczyńska and Jan Drożdżyk, who also played the harmonium.

Muszyński's nativity scene was a two-metre high structure full of pillars, porches and side roofs. It was made of smoothly planed wood, gilded, silvered, painted with colourful flowers and birds. At the top was a clock, in the middle was a manger with the Child, Mary and Joseph, accompanied by a donkey and an ox, and a strong light streamed from the back wall. There were about thirty dolls, dressed in robes made of shiny materials and decorated with various trinkets. They included: Baby Jesus in a blue dress, the aged St Joseph, shepherds in hats and with sticks under their arms, a king with a sceptre, six angels in pastel dresses, a tailed Satan in a red tailcoat with a pitchfork, death with a scythe, a philosopher with long hair and wearing glasses, a Jew with a beard and scarves, with a fox hat on his head and a Bible in his hand.