15 CURIOUS FACTS ABOUT

[{"selector":"#anim-42cd18d7-4627-4142-892b-f4396780dbac","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 100%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":775,"direction":"normal","duration":300,"easing":"linear","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7a8c82bd-0435-4812-b698-33176fd4a0c9","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(2)","scale(1)"]},"delay":900,"direction":"normal","duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1e8a33ba-57ff-4f28-9709-3591c51ee970","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":900,"direction":"normal","duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.895, 0.03, 0.685, 0.22)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3c95e40d-c576-4fa9-904b-84df7aeb2145","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"direction":"normal","duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-78fce831-3481-439d-8fb6-88d3e2c7c4d8","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":100,"direction":"normal","duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9c9f173e-502c-49e2-b20a-43b2a50131ac","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"direction":"normal","duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f4426679-e4ca-49a8-a362-a3a887898318","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 100%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":775,"direction":"normal","duration":300,"easing":"linear","fill":"both"}] Learn more

Discover the history, the traditions, and the meaning of Italy's Nativity scenes...

[{"selector":"#anim-9bde1bf6-db00-4ecf-989e-e8a467d46759","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 35%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"direction":"normal","duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8f8e31c9-ff0f-4350-b2d2-9633bb042731","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"direction":"normal","duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e70fc2fd-0bce-4023-b179-d40b9585702b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 100%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":800,"direction":"normal","duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-08825a80-8a06-400b-8507-7f1541585af2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8a76f296-0f27-4336-9103-f3b81f0c0cbe","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] rossiwrites.com

And why they are the most important Christmas decoration in Italy...

[{"selector":"#anim-8a59f3ea-a613-40a9-820c-7c770285ec96","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 35%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"direction":"normal","duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-381a3c7a-3c6a-47dd-8794-2e8a2bdf76ff","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"direction":"normal","duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-37f692cc-bede-4e6e-818c-825b60392223","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 100%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":800,"direction":"normal","duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3110ea74-5b84-4a22-8283-55e51f0aab1d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7e7ecb33-1e82-4bb2-9ad7-bd24ed6d58f7","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] rossiwrites.com

CLICK ON 'LEARN MORE' ON EACH SLIDE FOR MORE DETAILS...

[{"selector":"#anim-d59eae58-6306-4d6e-afd0-869d4cc41c1b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 30%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"direction":"normal","duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0efbc03d-90d7-4bed-9ec8-9fa604d07b61","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"direction":"normal","duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more

The Italian words for Nativity scene are presepe and presepio. They have a Latin root meaning 'to surround, to enclose, to wrap'...

[{"selector":"#anim-1bfaeb07-57df-44eb-9b15-0b1f7382f302","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 30%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"direction":"normal","duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0e1ca374-8d03-4f54-8fd6-7d70b0052ade","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"direction":"normal","duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cd577b8a-c746-4355-b530-c31aaaa19869","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -100%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":700,"direction":"normal","duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-55bc5966-5068-4d01-8e52-0383c52519da","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 100%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":700,"direction":"normal","duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-10168c77-54b6-4c94-aca0-73acef9e670e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1000,"direction":"normal","duration":300,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1)","fill":"both"}] LEARN MORE

The Nativity scene is a representation of the episodes of the Christmas Story describing the Birth of Christ and the events around it...

[{"selector":"#anim-a5ea8581-110f-4ed2-9c04-5d7810c4d412","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 30%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"direction":"normal","duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-16b7f4a8-48bb-41e7-a92b-7859e8e398c4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"direction":"normal","duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more

Nativity scenes are the most important Christmas decoration in Italy. They have been used here for centuries while Christmas trees are a relative newcomer...

[{"selector":"#anim-b2a2ebf1-8064-412f-a02b-7d50d820db9a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -100%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":700,"direction":"normal","duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-db24669d-93db-4da3-a933-07324a04b036","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 100%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":700,"direction":"normal","duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-910bc7ba-9f50-4f98-8999-c373ed6284bb","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1000,"direction":"normal","duration":300,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e0c6a818-a1fb-4c85-a39e-dab65f548b6d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 30%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"direction":"normal","duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0f85e1b6-1cc6-40c8-8693-8aa034c0370e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"direction":"normal","duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1)","fill":"both"}] LEARN MORE

The first Nativity scene in Italy was set up in the 5th century. The oldest Italian Nativity set to reach our days was carved out of marble in the 13th century...

[{"selector":"#anim-b26f68eb-2c70-485c-b654-0e953c75c421","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 30%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"direction":"normal","duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d8342811-d8ec-43c7-9ef9-1bea215f2d0c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"direction":"normal","duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more

In fact, the Holy Crib - the relic of the manger in which the Infant Jesus was laid after his birth - is kept in one of Rome's most important basilicas...

[{"selector":"#anim-1ce72b09-58dd-41d5-a7da-6121b1626cc1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -100%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":700,"direction":"normal","duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2c359d92-7ca2-4b40-873b-a00c76b2d78b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 100%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":700,"direction":"normal","duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-668f94fc-804f-4e27-a8df-d89bbc9281b3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1000,"direction":"normal","duration":300,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ecd502ab-29a7-4258-bfbc-4e0be209ec7f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 30%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"direction":"normal","duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-434998c1-f37f-47bf-8bfb-eb107b575af7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"direction":"normal","duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1)","fill":"both"}] LEARN MORE

Nowadays, Nativity scenes are lovingly arranged in Italian homes, churches, and public spaces on 8th December. This is the date which marks the start of the month-long Christmas season in Italy...

[{"selector":"#anim-93e20fc5-9ecd-461b-9de1-5971546ec469","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 30%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"direction":"normal","duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f915918b-a448-4050-903f-66622a77ddc1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"direction":"normal","duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more

Italian Nativity scenes can be large and complex, recreating the whole town of Bethlehem on the eve of the birth of the Infant Jesus...

[{"selector":"#anim-849c841d-0adf-4d72-ad60-7e7632fcf356","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -100%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":700,"direction":"normal","duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8cb72b62-0ab9-4623-867e-750218ff0300","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 100%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":700,"direction":"normal","duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5ff4fa2e-8efa-4977-a0bf-14b02b27cfa4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1000,"direction":"normal","duration":300,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8b993ac2-1649-4be9-bce3-c24b625c97c7","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 30%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"direction":"normal","duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1c522847-0083-473e-b4d0-e32dfbf453e4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"direction":"normal","duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1)","fill":"both"}] LEARN MORE

Or they can be small and humble with just the main Biblical characters of the Christmas Story - the Infant Jesus, the Virgin Mary, St. Joseph, the Three Wise Kings, and the ox and the donkey...

[{"selector":"#anim-382ea9b9-b193-4d52-ab6d-4889ebe5774c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 30%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"direction":"normal","duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-aaea35c2-8ae8-4e24-9b5a-61aec785396f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"direction":"normal","duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more

Traditionally, the best makers of Nativity scenes in Italy are in Naples. There is a whole street there flanked by their workshops...

[{"selector":"#anim-664eb038-1682-4ca8-88fc-22301b805c2f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -100%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":700,"direction":"normal","duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a043a7ff-253a-47bd-94cb-c6698cb723b6","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 100%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":700,"direction":"normal","duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ecddf0f9-02a9-4aec-80c3-2754157966f8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1000,"direction":"normal","duration":300,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f16d9874-5435-454c-bd9b-64fbbb498f4d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 30%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"direction":"normal","duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-29987d71-99d7-4c04-9c74-17dc66af3d56","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"direction":"normal","duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1)","fill":"both"}] LEARN MORE

Many Italian families add a new piece or element to their Nativity scene year after year. It's a work in constant progress...

[{"selector":"#anim-88d5dfee-8ff5-4432-b2af-6429514026e4","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 30%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"direction":"normal","duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-db96c9ab-a247-425f-94c5-9f2158b1fe9a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"direction":"normal","duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more

NOW CLICK HERE TO READ ALL ABOUT ITALY'S NATIVITY SCENES AND WHAT MAKES THEM UNIQUE...

[{"selector":"#anim-8b285b7e-8153-4962-ac52-f999ae089b07","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 50%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":600,"direction":"normal","duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.215, 0.61, 0.355, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a1f49fa2-2a95-4ccf-be79-558d873e2e5f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"direction":"normal","duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.215, 0.61, 0.355, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more

...AND SHARE WITH A FRIEND WHO LOVES ITALY AND CHRISTMAS!

[{"selector":"#anim-46ab4e3d-55c7-455a-9974-817fc2a16407","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 50%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":600,"direction":"normal","duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.215, 0.61, 0.355, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bf94c24d-3733-4c70-af4e-42915543a415","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"direction":"normal","duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.215, 0.61, 0.355, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more

More Curious Facts

[{"selector":"#anim-7de6950d-4a34-4dd6-8854-9e468a00562e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-110%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":1400,"direction":"normal","duration":700,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.165, 0.84, 0.44, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bdb71d02-3cd4-4639-b824-1023b1030a63","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(110%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":1400,"direction":"normal","duration":700,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.165, 0.84, 0.44, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b8c15795-35ac-4f62-b429-e8903da373fb","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-110%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":1350,"direction":"normal","duration":700,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.165, 0.84, 0.44, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5332fc63-ea9f-441d-93cf-d2e2406d97aa","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(110%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":1350,"direction":"normal","duration":700,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.165, 0.84, 0.44, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-40b01cfc-6cdb-4d7d-bef0-1f92bf380915","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-110%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":1300,"direction":"normal","duration":700,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.165, 0.84, 0.44, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cf0fb00c-b647-4007-8471-b2300afdd17f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(110%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":1300,"direction":"normal","duration":700,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.165, 0.84, 0.44, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fbd53282-f331-4e2d-84cf-cd06433edecd","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-110%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":1250,"direction":"normal","duration":700,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.165, 0.84, 0.44, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-74f334ba-6f75-402c-be7d-7cf71403c41d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(110%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":1250,"direction":"normal","duration":700,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.165, 0.84, 0.44, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-eec53274-e267-445e-88af-4031e449a4c9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-110%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":1200,"direction":"normal","duration":700,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.165, 0.84, 0.44, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4336646d-81ad-497a-9ec4-9590af9bbaec","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(110%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":1200,"direction":"normal","duration":700,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.165, 0.84, 0.44, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6c4a1250-54b6-4d8b-90fc-d3cecfbad712","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-50%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":101,"direction":"normal","duration":1201,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.77, 0, 0.175, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-096f5837-df60-48fc-b3bd-c3960583894a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":101,"direction":"normal","duration":1201,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.77, 0, 0.175, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6ad39af6-37aa-467b-984b-a94cc8efd928","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-50%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":101,"direction":"normal","duration":1201,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.77, 0, 0.175, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-656d40f0-a3a6-4770-b2db-20f3c30d2c5a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -20px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":1000,"direction":"normal","duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.165, 0.84, 0.44, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6022e15e-2a8f-4f05-81c8-b40eeeed8b17","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1000,"direction":"normal","duration":400,"easing":"linear","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fafb10e7-9118-468f-8547-2e12a6300a15","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 110%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":1500,"direction":"normal","duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.23, 1, 0.32, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6d408acb-eb64-42dd-be37-e4e345abc1c3","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 110%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":1500,"direction":"normal","duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.23, 1, 0.32, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b1ada76b-811c-43ae-afd2-6d6f9db2cce8","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 110%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":1500,"direction":"normal","duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.23, 1, 0.32, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a58b0bd9-662e-4003-aaab-10b520139f63","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 110%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":1500,"direction":"normal","duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.23, 1, 0.32, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-23425269-e8a4-46f9-b761-47adf4d30d71","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 110%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":1500,"direction":"normal","duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.23, 1, 0.32, 1)","fill":"both"}] Venetian Masks Italy's Largest Square The City of the Saint Italian Coffee Culture Christmas in Italy

15 CURIOUS FACTS ABOUT

PRESEPE

ITALY'S NATIVITY SCENES

Discover the history, the traditions, and the meaning of Italy's Nativity scenes...

And why they are the most important Christmas decoration in Italy...

CLICK ON 'LEARN MORE' ON EACH SLIDE FOR MORE DETAILS...

CLICK ON 'LEARN MORE' ON EACH SLIDE FOR MORE DETAILS...

The Italian words for Nativity scene are presepe and presepio. They have a Latin root meaning 'to surround, to enclose, to wrap'...

The Nativity scene is a representation of the episodes of the Christmas Story describing the Birth of Christ and the events around it...

The Nativity scene is a representation of the episodes of the Christmas Story describing the Birth of Christ and the events around it...

Nativity scenes are the most important Christmas decoration in Italy. They have been used here for centuries while Christmas trees are a relative newcomer...

The first Nativity scene in Italy was set up in the 5th century. The oldest Italian Nativity set to reach our days was carved out of marble in the 13th century...

The first Nativity scene in Italy was set up in the 5th century. The oldest Italian Nativity set to reach our days was carved out of marble in the 13th century...

In fact, the Holy Crib - the relic of the manger in which the Infant Jesus was laid after his birth - is kept in one of Rome's most important basilicas...

Nowadays, Nativity scenes are lovingly arranged in Italian homes, churches, and public spaces on 8th December. This is the date which marks the start of the month-long Christmas season in Italy...

Nowadays, Nativity scenes are lovingly arranged in Italian homes, churches, and public spaces on 8th December. This is the date which marks the start of the month-long Christmas season in Italy...

Italian Nativity scenes can be large and complex, recreating the whole town of Bethlehem on the eve of the birth of the Infant Jesus...

Or they can be small and humble with just the main Biblical characters of the Christmas Story - the Infant Jesus, the Virgin Mary, St. Joseph, the Three Wise Kings, and the ox and the donkey...

Or they can be small and humble with just the main Biblical characters of the Christmas Story - the Infant Jesus, the Virgin Mary, St. Joseph, the Three Wise Kings, and the ox and the donkey...

Traditionally, the best makers of Nativity scenes in Italy are in Naples. There is a whole street there flanked by their workshops...

Many Italian families add a new piece or element to their Nativity scene year after year. It's a work in constant progress...

Many Italian families add a new piece or element to their Nativity scene year after year. It's a work in constant progress...

NOW CLICK HERE TO READ ALL ABOUT ITALY'S NATIVITY SCENES AND WHAT MAKES THEM UNIQUE...

NOW CLICK HERE TO READ ALL ABOUT ITALY'S NATIVITY SCENES AND WHAT MAKES THEM UNIQUE...

...AND SHARE WITH A FRIEND WHO LOVES ITALY AND CHRISTMAS!

...AND SHARE WITH A FRIEND WHO LOVES ITALY AND CHRISTMAS!

More Curious Facts

READ MORE...