Vatican gives prominence to the Holy Land during Christmas 2024

In addition to the traditional nativity scene and the majestic fir tree in St. Peter’s Square, this year the Vatican will host the “Nativity of Bethlehem 2024”, a set of Christmas representations made by artisans from the Holy Land that will be exhibited in the Paul VI Hall.

On the morning of December 7, the “Nativity of Bethlehem 2024” will be inaugurated in the Paul VI Hall, a set of Christmas representations made by local artisans from Bethlehem.

This event will feature the representation of the Embassy of the State of Palestine before the Holy See and other Delegations that will be received by Pope Francis in audience.

This manger wants to remember the Holy Land, the privileged place in the history of salvation, whose soil was traveled by the Savior, and where his incarnation, birth, passion, death and resurrection occurred.

It has been designed by two artists from Bethlehem, Johny Andonia and Faten Nastas Mitwasi. It is a main structure three meters high, composed of a circular base, with shelves on which a variety of mangers are displayed and, at the top, the famous star of Bethlehem. In the representation, the centuries-old traditions of local artisans are associated with contemporary elements.

A manger centered on “love”

The nativity scene that this year will be placed in St. Peter’s Square comes from Grado, an Italian municipality in the province of Gorizia. It will have as its main element the birth of the Child Jesus and love as its common thread, also showing scenes of daily life.

The nativity scene was made by about forty people, all volunteers, professionals and artists in their respective fields. The setting chosen is that of the first years of the 20th century, where the so-called casoneripeople who lived in the houses or typical reed constructions, were arranged around a large lagoon.

It is within a few houses where the Nativity is located, a work made, along with all the other numerous clay figures, by father and daughter, Lorenzo and Francesca Boemo.

Furthermore, the work also foresees, within a long dam (about one hundred meters of polystyrene blocks worked by hand), the presence of water, where two batteriesthe characteristic little boats to navigate the lagoon channels. There will also be a beach with a grandmother watching over her grandchildren and even a dog.

In addition, you will see how a fisherwoman will drive one of these boats with the Three Wise Men on board. In addition, there will be rich vegetation made with 3D printers.

According to the Government, the passion for nativity scenes in Grado is deeply rooted, so much so that for decades an important exhibition has been held with the works on display.

Majestic 29 meter high fir tree

The tree that the Vatican will place this year comes from the Italian town of Ledro, in Trentino. It is a majestic 29-meter-high fir tree whose extraction will guarantee the natural renewal of the forest in the coming decades.

The manger and the Christmas tree will be illuminated on the evening of December 7 at 6:00 p.m. (Rome time), in an inauguration ceremony presided over by Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga and Raffaella Petrini, president and general secretary of the Government of Vatican City State.

They will remain on display until the conclusion of the Christmas Season, which coincides with the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, on Sunday, January 12, 2025.