only 13 more sleeps

Advent Calendar - December 12

Christmas Fact:

The popularity of living Nativity scenes gave rise to another custom, recreating the crib scene with figurines...

In the 17th century families began to create their own Nativity scenes. These became more elaborate with time. The art form reached spectacular heights in eighteenth-century Naples Italy. Families competed with each other to produce the most elegant and elaborate crib scenes. These scenes expanded far beyond the manger to include village backdrops, ordinary villagers, ruined Roman temples, angels and even foreigners whom the families thought might have rushed to Bethlehem had they known of the miraculous birth.

– Encyclopedia of Christmas p. 408-9

Open December 12

Some Living nativity scenes - Italy.