Cheesy or Charming? 'Szopki' Nativity Scenes' Display

The first Thursday of December is the deadline for the time-honoured szopki competition. A full-sized szopka (pr. shop-ka), resembling more a a Russian fairy tale castle than a birthplace of Jesus, can be several feet tall and take over a hundred hours to complete. After the annual contest, the loath of these colourful Cracovian curiosities is put on show at the Historical Museum. Love them or loathe them, these garish curios are remarkable for their delicacy of design and dedication of its creators.