What's New

Exhibits of new nativity scenes built by individuals and groups are becoming increasingly popular.

A shrine dedicated to the Archangel Michael seems at odds with the post-Vatican II Church in Europe, but in fact is crowded with visitors who come for more than the medieval ambience in its hill town.

In recent years, Italy has absorbed large numbers of migrants from Eastern Europe, North Africa, South Asia and East Asia. For the first time in centuries, it has faced an imagined multicultural future, and has only slowly been learning how to deal with it.

The intensity of devotion to Mary and the saints is probably one of the most obvious characteristics of Catholic practice in Italy. Images of the Madonna and a wide variety of saints are often more frequently to be seen than images of Christ, especially in public.

Only four of Italy’s major holidays are secular in origin. The others, including Epiphany, Easter Monday, Assumption Day, All Saints Day, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, Christmas and Santo Stefano, are Catholic feasts.

India is home to three different kinds of liturgy: the Syrian rite liturgies of the Indian Syro-Malabar and Syro-Malankara churches and the Latin rite liturgy common to most of the church worldwide, which is celebrated in India in a wide variety of local languages.

"If we speak of a generic adhesion to Catholicism, we may affirm that this is still the great majority in Italy. But it is true that those who live their faith deeply are a minority."

Christmas celebrations might include a tour of a local presepe vivente , a theatrical reenactment of the nativity story. Living nativities take place all over Italy and attract thousands of visitors. Some viventi reenact life in ancient Palestine, while others set the Nativity locally. In Greccio, busloads of visitors wind up the hill to the site where St. Francis performed what is often considered to have been the first nativity scene for the annual reenactment. In Lecce, a free bus takes families on a vivente tour of performances in regional towns — Taurisano and Gemini on one evening

Presepe figurines, home décor, and construction materials are available at many Christmas markets. For the serious presepe enthusiast, San Gregorio Armeno, a street in the heart of old Naples, beckons with its dozens of workshops, many of which have been in operation for centuries.

The nativity scene or crèche, called in Italian the presepe or presepio , brings to life the story of the Nativity as told in the canonical as well as apocryphal gospels. The presepe (pl. presepi) , which literally means “in front of the crib,” has been an important feature of Christmas celebrations in Italy for centuries. Appearing in churches, piazzas, and living rooms on December 8 (the Feast of the Immaculate Conception), presepi remain up until after January 6, or Epiphany, the feast associated with the visit of the Three Kings or Magi. While a presepe will always include figures of Mary