Pastorelas in Italy:         By Franciso and Manuel

One of the most important ways to celebrate Christmas in Italy is with the Nativity crib scene.

Crib scene: A model of the birth of Jesus with figurines.

St.  Francis  of Assisi made the story of the birth of the Baby Jesus popular  in 1223. He got the idea of this story by visiting Bethlehem years earlier.

A lot of families in Italy place the crib scene on December 8th, but the baby is added on the evening of December 24th.

Italy's Nativity traditions has come to other countries such as Mexico and all Latin America in form "Novenas" ( a week after the Christmas Day ). In Italy and Mexico a series of prayers and church services are done.