The Shroud of Turin, the Veil of Veronica, the Holy Face of Manoppello—miraculous representations of Christ’s face have fascinated and divided believers and scholars for centuries.

Among the many relics passed down through Christian history, some remain profoundly intriguing. Particularly captivating are those believed to portray the face of Christ, such as the Veil of Veronica, the Shroud of Turin, and the Holy Face of Manoppello. It’s understandable why these relics hold such deep allure for believers: to have even a faint perception of Jesus’s holy visage is a shared longing.

A notable feature these relics share, according to tradition, is that they are acheiropoietos, meaning not created by human hand. This has often led to confusion between them. The veil that Veronica, a follower of Jesus, used to wipe his face as he carried the cross to Calvary is sometimes mistakenly referred to as “the shroud of Jesus Christ.” However, this is incorrect: the veil is said to bear only an image of Christ’s face, whereas the Shroud of Turin depicts his entire body, as one would expect from a burial cloth.

The Holy Face of Manoppello also displays the face of a man with long hair and a beard, consistent with Christ’s known iconography. Preserved in the Basilica of the Holy Face, the Manoppello cloth has a simple weave, visible to the naked eye, and measures 0.17 x 0.24 metres.

Intriguingly, the face on the Manoppello cloth is visible from both sides of the fabric. The image, depicted in brown tones, is slightly asymmetrical, with one cheek rounder than the other and irregular pupils. However, modern ultraviolet analyses have found no trace of pigment on the fabric, supporting the claim that the face is neither painted nor woven into the material.

The Holy Face of Manoppello was brought to the town in the province of Pescara in 1506 by an unknown pilgrim. This individual gave the relic to a physician named Giacomo Antonio Leonelli before vanishing. The Leonelli family kept the relic until Marzia Leonelli sold it to Donato Antonio de Fabritiis.

At some point, the veil became damaged, prompting de Fabritiis to seek the expertise of Father Clemente of Castelvecchio. Father Clemente entrusted the relic to the Capuchin friar Remigio of Rapino, who placed it within a walnut frame, enclosed between two panes of glass—its current form. Unfortunately, Father Clemente deemed the surrounding cloth, reportedly as large as a tablecloth, unnecessary and discarded it, thereby erasing key evidence about the relic’s origins.

Since 1638, the relic has been housed in Manoppello at the Capuchin Friary’s church, which was dedicated to Saint Michael the Archangel. Today, this site is the Basilica of the Holy Face, one of Manoppello’s most significant religious landmarks. The church was elevated to a minor basilica after Pope Benedict XVI visited it in September 2006.

The Holy Face and the Veil of Veronica

The Holy Face of Manoppello is often associated with the Veil of Veronica, said to have been used by Veronica to wipe Christ’s face.

The Veil of Veronica, housed in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome since the 14th century, disappeared in 1608 following the destruction of the chapel where it had been kept. Some argue it later surfaced in Manoppello. However, this theory conflicts with historical records, particularly the “Relatione historica” written by Father Donato of Bomba and preserved in L’Aquila, which states the cloth was already in Manoppello by 1506.

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Climb to Calvary, Jesus, Veronica and good Samaritan

Climb to Calvary, hand-painted resin, 6.5 inches.

Jesuit scholar Heinrich Pfeiffer and others have hypothesised that the Holy Face of Manoppello is the burial cloth placed over Christ’s face in the tomb, thus equating it with the Veil of Veronica. Elements such as the open eyes, hair arrangement, blood traces, and facial structure lend weight to this argument, suggesting the two relics might indeed be one and the same.

The Holy Face and the Shroud of Turin

Other researchers have identified similarities between the Holy Face of Manoppello and the Shroud of Turin. According to tradition, the Shroud of Turin is the burial cloth that wrapped Christ’s body after his crucifixion. This renowned relic has captivated and perplexed humanity with its enduring mystery.

Sister Blandina Paschalis Schloemer, an iconographic researcher, has noted identical facial features between the Holy Face and the Shroud of Turin: the oval shape, asymmetry, long hair, the tuft on the forehead, and the slightly open mouth. The sole difference lies in the eyes: on the Holy Face and the Veil of Veronica, the eyes are open, whereas they are closed on the Shroud of Turin. Despite this, the facial features of the Turin Shroud and the Manoppello cloth align perfectly.

The Sanctuary of Manoppello

Not much remains of the original Capuchin friary that housed the Holy Face. When Donato Antonio de Fabritiis donated the relic in 1638, the friary had recently been founded and was dedicated to Saint Michael and the Most Holy Name of God.

The Capuchin friars were expelled during the Napoleonic occupation, which mandated the closure of religious institutions. The friary was later entrusted to the Poor Clares before being returned to the Capuchins during the Bourbon Restoration. Extensive restorations between the late 19th and mid-20th centuries significantly altered the church’s original appearance.

Today, the basilica features a beautiful façade of white and pink stone. The chapel to the right of the choir, which houses the precious relic, has remained almost unchanged. Inside, the basilica has a single nave adorned with Baroque decorations. The Holy Face is kept in an exquisite silver reliquary of 18th-century Neapolitan craftsmanship, displayed prominently on an elevated stand behind the altar.

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Reliquary with Silver 800 filigree decoration

Reliquary with Silver 800 filigree decoation, 13 cm.

The figure of Baby Jesus transcends the nativity scene and our childhood imagination. As a symbol of salvation and hope, it has been central to art and devotion for centuries.

On a cold winter’s night in 1 BC, a Child was born in a stable where His parents sought refuge, as no inn could offer them shelter. To warm the mother during childbirth and the Child in His first hours of life, there were only an ox and a donkey with their warm breath. Outside the grotto, under a vast and mysterious night sky, a star began its journey across the heavens to herald the greatest story ever told. We all know this story; it is repeated every Christmas as far back as we can remember. It is not just told but represented everywhere, including in our homes with figurines, moss, and a paper star. Yet, each time, we cannot help but be moved. The birth of Baby Jesus truly is the greatest story of all.

As is fitting for such a tale, in addition to the nativity scenes we create each year, it has been told for centuries by countless artists—some immortalized by their talent, others forgotten though their works endure. These artists, renowned or less known, have each interpreted the birth of the Christ Child of Bethlehem, establishing specific iconographies to depict Him. In reality, there are multiple iconographies because, as with every aspect of Christianity and its figures, art has conveyed diverse messages and symbols in various ways.

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Nativity scenes

Nativity scenes in wood, resin, stone, terracotta and other materials.

Among the many recurring representations of Baby Jesus, the most common is undoubtedly that of the swaddled child laid in a manger, as portrayed in the first nativity scene by St. Francis of Assisi. The symbolism is clear and profound: God not only becomes man but becomes a helpless, vulnerable child amidst a cold winter. Other depictions include the Eucharistic Baby Jesus, blessing the chalice of wine or administering the consecrated host; the Blessing Baby Jesus, raising His tiny hand in blessing with the innocent smile only a child can offer; Baby Jesus as King; and the Resurrected Baby Jesus. Some artists have chosen to depict Baby Jesus as the sacrificial Lamb, foreshadowing the Passion He would one day endure. This dramatic vision of the Passion Child Jesus is sometimes made even more poignant by the innocence of the little Jesus playing with a wooden cross or resting unknowingly beside symbols of His future condemnation. In other portrayals, Baby Jesus seems aware, pausing as children often do to ponder something indescribable, as if contemplating the Cross, scourging, and crown of thorns.

Let us explore some of the most famous depictions of Baby Jesus through the ages.

Baby Jesus figurine in resin measuring 21cm. This nativity scene figurine is made of hand painted resin.
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Baby Jesus statue 39,5 cm in resin.
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Baby Jesus wooden figurine with opened arms and golden drape
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Baby Jesus with rays in wood paste, 14 inches elegant finish.
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Baby Jesus statue, in plaster with lamb 15 cm.
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The Infant Jesus of Prague

The Infant Jesus of Prague exemplifies a hybrid depiction of Baby Jesus, combining the iconographies of the Blessing Baby Jesus and the Royal Baby Jesus.

The small wooden statue covered in wax, housed today in the Church of Our Lady Victorious in Prague, depicts Baby Jesus dressed in regal attire. His right hand is raised in a gesture of blessing, while His left holds the globe. Sculpted in Spain during the 16th century, when devotion to the kingship of Baby Jesus was widespread—especially through St. Teresa of Ávila—the statue was brought to Prague by the Counts of Treviño and Dukes of Nájera, Spanish ambassadors to the city. It was later donated to the Discalced Carmelites. Inspired by the statue, Pope Leo XIII founded the Congregation of the Infant Jesus of Prague in 1896, and subsequent popes established confraternities and celebrations in its honour.

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Infant of Prague statue in Valgardena wood

The Infant Jesus of Prague statue is produced in Val Gardena, Italy.

The Holy Child of Atocha

Unique in its representation, the Holy Child of Atocha, or Santo Niño de Atocha, is a popular depiction of Jesus in Mexico. The image portrays a seated child dressed as a traveller or pilgrim, with a cloak, a wide-brimmed hat, and sandals. He carries a shell, symbolizing pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago, a staff with a water container and ears of wheat in His left hand and a basket of bread in His right.

Initially part of a medieval statue of Our Lady of Atocha in Spain, the Child was removable and often taken to women in labour. When the Moors seized Atocha in the 13th century, their caliph decreed that only children under 12 could bring food to imprisoned Christians. However, a mysterious child dressed as a pilgrim began appearing at night, feeding the prisoners. The people of Atocha realized it was Jesus helping them. This devotion spread to the New World with Spanish settlers.

The Niño de Atocha is particularly venerated in Mexico, with two shrines dedicated to Him. The original Mexican Niño was placed in the Church of St. Augustine in 1554, alongside the Silver Christ.

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Holy Child Atocha statue 15 cm colored resin

The statue of the Santo Nino de Atocha depicts the Holy Child with his symbols: the stick and the basket.

The Santo Niño de Cebu

The Santo Niño de Cebu resembles the Infant Jesus of Prague. Kept in the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño in Cebu, Philippines, it is a 16th-century statue gifted by explorer Ferdinand Magellan in 1521 to the Queen of Cebu upon her conversion to Catholicism and baptism, along with the King and over 800 subjects. This icon remains deeply venerated by locals, especially during the third Sunday of January, when it is carried in a solemn procession.

Stalls illuminated by colourful lights, handcrafted products, gourmet specialities, parades, and music. The atmosphere of Christmas markets in Europe is an essential magic for the Festive season.

How wonderful are Christmas markets? When Europe’s squares light up with countless lights and the vibrant colours of the stalls, offering visitors those items that only appear as if by magic during Christmas, as if they have just come from Santa’s workshop. Christmas decorations, handcrafted items to beautify the home or give as gifts, little trinkets, and delicious culinary treats that can be purchased or enjoyed on the spot at many stands, from which delightful scents waft through the air. There are also shows, choirs, Christmas music, and even rides, just like in one of those colourful, picturesque Christmas village displays that many families set up as decorations during the holidays.

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Christmas villages sets

Miniature Christmas village sets and landscapes in resin with lights and motion.

Christmas markets in Europe have become a beloved and essential tradition. While they are primarily found in northern countries like Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, they began to spread to Italy in the early ’90s, starting in Bolzano and generally throughout Trentino. Even here, between late November and Epiphany, it’s possible to immerse oneself in the atmosphere of Christmas villages, wandering through streets and squares adorned with lights and Christmas decorations, browsing the stalls of handicrafts, Christmas wreaths, toys, and savouring the delights of local cuisine. You may even experience parades of the Krampus and Saint Nicholas in Trentino or visit Santa’s House in Arezzo. Everywhere you go, you can find Christmas villages that offer an inimitable atmosphere, filled with ancient traditions, typical products, and a unique magic.

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Christmas wreaths and reefs

Christmas wreaths and reefs made of real pine cones…

Let’s take a look at some of the main Christmas markets in Europe.

Innsbruck Christmas Markets

Each year, Innsbruck, the capital of North Tyrol and the fifth-largest city in Austria, comes alive with Christmas magic. The entire city glows with sparkling lights adorning its beautiful streets and the facades of medieval buildings, their charming oriels, and richly historic gables. Over seventy stalls spread across the historic centre, all the way to the Golden Roof (Goldenes Dachl), a city symbol, and the balcony of the residence of Maximilian I, with its characteristic roof covered in gold-plated copper tiles and intricately carved balustrades. There are actually six Christmas markets in Innsbruck: the one already mentioned in the historic centre, Christkindlmarkt Altstadt Innsbruck; Christkindlmarkt Marktplatz, a family-oriented Christmas market where St. Nicholas distributes gifts to good children, surrounded by Christmas angels and parades of fearsome Krampus in a marketplace transformed into a true wonderland with a sparkling 14-metre Swarovski crystal tree at its heart. There’s also Christkindlmarkt Maria-Theresien-Straße, in Innsbruck’s luxury shopping street, further illuminated by twinkling trees and modern lights, with stalls offering items from around the world and typical Austrian specialities; the Panorama Christkindlmarkt Hungerburg, offering a panoramic view, situated in the Hungerburg district, which is reachable in just eight minutes via the modern Hungerburgbahn funicular and provides a spectacular view of the city below. There is also the St. Nikolaus Advent Market in Hans-Brenner-Platz and along Innstraße, and the Wilten Christmas Market, in the square of the same name, which showcases the most authentic and traditional Tyrolean crafts.

Everywhere you go, you’ll be able to enjoy Tyrolean Christmas treats, from Kiachln, traditional sweet fried doughnuts, to Glühwein, the warming mulled wine.

Lugano Christmas Markets

In Lugano, in the Canton of Ticino, Switzerland, the traditional Christmas Market opens, filling the city’s pedestrian area. The stalls offer artisanal items, textiles, fragrances, and culinary delights, and the wooden houses in Piazza della Riforma overflow with Christmas decorations. Throughout Advent, the Tree of Lights, the city’s Christmas symbol, will illuminate the square, transforming it into an enchanted space. Between Piazza della Riforma and Piazza Manzoni, countless huts and stalls around the *Chalet del Gusto* serve festive food and local Christmas delicacies. The Christmas Village, built as a traditional village, hosts shows and events for the whole family, while Santa Claus personally greets young visitors in the Grand Cabin. Amongst pipers and handmade Nativity scenes, there are also straw weavers crafting baskets and hats, and you may catch sight of Old Jörg, a musician playing traditional tunes on a barrel organ, while people enjoy polenta, roasted chestnuts, cotton candy, and sip eggnog and walnut liqueur to keep warm.

Füssen Christmas Markets

Situated in Bavaria’s Swabian district near the Austrian border, Füssen is the highest city in Bavaria and the last stop on the Romantic Road. The courtyard of the baroque Sankt Mang monastery, in the heart of the medieval city centre, hosts the Füssen Christmas Market, offering artisan goods, Christmas decorations, and culinary specialities. The city’s streets are lit with torches for the occasion. Nearby, the Hohenschwangau Castle, a former military fortress restored in the Italian Renaissance style, and Neuschwanstein Castle, which inspired the Walt Disney fairytale castle, are also worth a visit. You can enjoy waffles, cheese raclette, apple strudel, and may even encounter Santa Claus and the fearsome Krampus!

Valkenburg Christmas Markets

In Valkenburg aan de Geul, a Dutch town in the Limburg province, Christmas is celebrated underground! In the area surrounding this town, famous for its marlstone houses, various former quarries host Christmas markets across over 200 km of subterranean passages. Christmas in Valkenburg is celebrated both underground and along the charming town’s streets. As you descend into the Velvet Cave, you can meet Santa Claus and explore rooms filled with presents and decorations, alongside fifty stalls featuring local foods and crafts. Meanwhile, the municipal cave of Valkenburg aan de Geul hosts the largest and oldest underground Christmas market in Europe. Above ground, there’s also the Christmas Parade, with dancers and costumed performers.

Nuremberg Christmas Markets

Nuremberg in Bavaria boasts one of the world’s oldest and most famous Christkindlesmarkt. This small city fills with traditional Christmas market wooden stalls, decorated with numerous Christmas ornaments. The use of wood and fabric for the stalls is due to a ban on plastic garlands. The stall that achieves the best decoration wins the Zwetschgermoh, a chimney sweep figure made of plum paste and dried fruit. Nuremberg’s Christmas Angel (Christkind) inaugurates the Christmas Market on the Friday evening before the first Advent day. A golden statue representing the Angel is hung above the main market entrance, but a girl aged 16-19, selected through a strict process, personifies the Angel and embodies the spirit of Christmas for the following two years. Over 2 million visitors come each year to the Nuremberg Christmas Market, which dates back to the 17th century and features over a hundred stalls.

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Christmas Angels and accessories

In this department you will find Christmas figurines in the shape of angels, the Nativity and other symbols of Christmas.

Traditional foods famous worldwide include gingerbread, sausages, and Zwetschgenmännle – little figures made of dried plums, dressed in fabric.

Zurich Christmas Markets

Finally, in Zurich, Switzerland’s largest city, are held four traditional Christmas markets. The Zürcher Christkindlmarkt, located in the main railway station, is the largest, featuring wooden houses and an enormous Christmas tree adorned with seven thousand Swarovski jewels. The oldest market is in Niederdorf, one of the old town’s charming districts. The market at Werdmühleplatz, in a small square behind Bahnhofstrasse, is intimate yet famous for its excellent mulled wine, Bratwurst, and its unique feature: the Singing Christmas Tree, a large stage shaped like a Christmas tree where choirs from across Switzerland perform until 23rd December. In addition to mulled wine, grilled sausages, roasted chestnuts, you can enjoy gingerbread, cookies, baked potatoes, smoked salmon, roasted corn, crepes, cheese raclette on bread, Nideltafeli (butter and sugar sweets), Magenbrot (spiced bread), nougat, crunchy treats, apple fritters, and doughnuts.

Meta description: Christmas markets in Europe attract millions of visitors each year. Fairytale villages with a unique atmosphere in the heart of modern cities.

Zampognari are among the most well-known and beloved characters of the Neapolitan Nativity scene. But how did these figures so dear to folklore come about?

Among the countless characteristic characters that animate the Neapolitan Nativity scene, there is a particular ‘couple’ that can never be missed. These are the two bagpipers, an older one, who plays the bagpipes, and a younger one, who plays the ciaramella, a kind of flute with a high-pitched sound. Both dress like shepherds and are usually positioned next to the Nativity cave or hut. It seems that already in the Nativity scene set up by Saint Francis of Assisi in Greccio in 1223, there were the two bagpipers. This is because the tradition of the Zampognari is really very ancient, it is lost in a past cloaked in legend and paganism, and only over time has Christianity codified their figures making them the characters we know.

It is certain that the presence of Christmas bagpipers, who play along the streets of towns and cities on festive days, dressed in typical clothes, is a constant recurrent in almost all regions of Italy for centuries and is still very widespread today. In fact, in southern regions and rural areas in particular, the sound of bagpipes and the presence of bagpipes are associated with the holidays not only at Christmas time but throughout the year. With transhumance, migrations and the movement of workers from south to north, the tradition has expanded and the exhibitions of the Zampognari have spread a little everywhere, especially during the Christmas period. Staying within the context of Christmas, usually the zampognari begin to move in the period of the Novena of the Immaculate Conception, on 8 December, when you can hear them on the street singing their melodies dedicated to the Immaculate Virgin. Their repertoire consists of music and songs typical of the tradition.

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Statue of Mary Immaculate gold details resin

The Mary Immaculate statue is 31 cm tall.

In Naples in particular, the tradition of bagpipers playing is so deep-rooted that it would be impossible to think of Christmas without the sound of their instruments playing as a constant background on festive days. And this even though attempts have been made, over the centuries, to limit its presence.

Who are the Zampognari

Tradition associates the birth of the bagpipers with the God Pan, a Greek deity linked to the world of pastoralism and shepherds. Symbol of ‘everything’, Pan was often depicted with both male and female characteristics, in particular with objects and instruments that referred to both sexes. The bagpipes would be an evolution of the flute, or syringe, played by Pan. It consists of a sack, called an otre, made of goat or sheep skin, from which wind pipes emerge, some intended to play a fixed note (drone), others used to tune the melody. The otre fills with air and functions as a reservoir, allowing the player to maintain a constant background sound even when taking a breath. It would have been the priests of Pan who devised this instrument, which encloses in itself the masculine and feminine characteristics of their God in a cosmic union. Pan was associated with the winter solstice, a festival that celebrated the rebirth of the sun, and which over time became Christian Christmas. In the same way, the bagpipe has transformed from a pagan tool into one of the symbols par excellence of Christmas, linked to an environment of wandering shepherds who, with the onset of winter, descended from the mountain pastures to go to the villages and cities of the plain. Here to earn a living, they intoned their lamentable and suggestive lullabies.

In Naples in the eighteenth century, the Zampognari who came from the mountains accompanied with their instruments the prayer songs led by Alfonso Maria de’ Liguori, author among other melodies of Tu scendi dalle stelle. Today there are associations in Naples created to preserve these fascinating figures of the Christmas tradition and not only, which modernity risks making disappear.

Nativity figurines

Among the many people who came to celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Zampognari always occupy a prominent place. They are shepherds, often accompanied by a small flock, and they sing their melodies at the hut, to comfort the Holy Family and cradle the sleep of the Child Jesus.

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Baby Jesus figurines

The department is dedicated to Baby Jesus figurines in different shapes, sizes and colors.

In our online store, you will find many Nativity figurines dedicated to these picturesque figures, made of terracotta, wood, but also resin and PVC, for every type of Nativity scene and for every pocket. The wooden Zampognaro, for example, is a beautiful 15 cm high terracotta figurine, made in Naples by artisans who have always been devoted to the Neapolitan Nativity scene tradition. His bagpipes are made of wood and leather-effect fabric, and the entire figurine is hand-assembled and covered with cloth, treated and shaped, for a unique work of art.

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Neapolitan nativity figurine, bagpiper 18cm

The character is made in Neaples, capital of the nativity scene tradition.

30 cm tall, the Shepherd with a bagpipe is instead made of plastic, but with a wood-like finish and entirely hand-painted by specialised staff.
Cheaper, but always of great effect, the Man who plays the bagpipe is suitable for a Nativity scene with statuettes around 16 cm high, while the small bagpipe player  is made of maple wood, just 12 cm high, but made entirely in Italy and finely hand-painted by craftsmen specialising in Nativity scenes.

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Nativity figurine bagpiper 30cm

The figurine is made of real terracotta.

Minimalist style and attention to natural materials. Spiral Christmas Trees are a modern trend, imbued with a distinctly Nordic flavour.

When we talk about Spiral Christmas Trees, the first thought we associate with them is Scandinavian, or Nordic, style. Not because every Nordic-style Christmas Tree is necessarily a spiral tree. This is just one of many possibilities. More generally, we can say that a Christmas Tree in Scandinavian style will tend to be minimalist and nature-oriented, reflected in the choice of materials, colours, and decorations. The ornaments will be made primarily from wood, dried fruit, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and star anise, which, in addition to adding colour, will fill the living room with a delightful, spicy aroma that is very much in keeping with winter. The choice of wood from which the tree itself is made, whether it’s a real fir, a wooden silhouette, or indeed a spiral Christmas Tree, is also important, as the scent of pine is different from that of beech, oak, or maple. Not surprisingly, in Nordic countries, wood is widely used not only for furniture and flooring but also as a decorative element during the Christmas festivities, in the form of branches used as garlands.

Returning to the simplicity of the Nordic Christmas Tree, it doesn’t have to be a full fir tree with an excessive number of branches. In keeping with a minimalist perspective, even a single branch, decorated and made unique and special with garlands, ribbons, baubles, and so on, will suffice.

We wanted to discuss Spiral Christmas Trees alongside the trending minimalist Christmas Tree because, in many respects, they evoke simplicity, a preference for natural materials, and a fondness for soft colours, both in the wood from which they are made and in the decorations and adornments, ranging from ice white to grey, from silver to beige. In fact, the Spiral Christmas Tree is simply a stylised wooden Christmas Tree, modern and magical!

Wooden Christmas Trees: The Spira Model at Holyart

For its minimalist wooden Spiral Christmas Trees, Holyart has chosen Spira, an innovative and eco-friendly tree model made entirely from natural materials, in polished wood, meticulously crafted by hand. The original spiral shape makes installation and storage easy and quick, without the need for tools, while also allowing for endless decoration possibilities, thanks to its exclusive and ergonomic design suitable for all homes and all styles of decor.

The wood that completely comprises these Spiral Christmas Trees will add a touch of warmth to any environment, creating a festive atmosphere that spreads throughout the home. Additionally, Spira Spiral Christmas Trees can be customised with all types of decorations. In our store, you will also find practical sets of decorations specifically designed for these trees, all made from natural wood, polished and handcrafted, as well as useful accessories like the wooden Christmas Tree hanger, essential for those with children or pets, who choose to hang their Christmas Tree.

The smaller dimensions and sustainable materials used in the Spira Christmas Tree also make it easy to store and pack away.

The Spira Spiral Christmas Trees at Holyart are available in sizes of 42, 85, 140, or 190 cm, in round or oval versions, for an even more original and design-oriented effect.

Wood Christmas tree large oval SPIRA 140 cm
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Mini Christmas tree and wooden decoration set 42 cm
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Hanging tree SPIRA Small wood
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SPIRA Slim Christmas tree in wood 190 cm
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How to Assemble the Spiral Tree

But how do you assemble a Spiral Christmas Tree? Well, in fact, you don’t assemble it! You simply open the package, assemble the simple snap-together base, attach your tree, which is still connected, to its upper end, and gently guide it downwards, causing it to open magically. At this point, all that remains is to decorate it with the coordinated wooden decorations or any other decorations you desire.

Alternatively, as mentioned earlier, you can hang it on the appropriate support and allow your spiral tree to dangle from the ceiling, gently rotating.

When you wish to store it, you should simply repeat the procedure in reverse. Once you have removed the decorations, gather the lower part of the tree and lift it upwards, sliding it off its support and placing it back in its convenient flat box.

Rivers, ponds, cascades, fountains. The key word is just one: Nativity Scene water effect. Here are three simple methods suitable for all needs for your DIY Nativity Scene.

Nativity Scene water effect? Easier said than done, if you follow our advice. Our blog has always aimed to help those who want to engage in setting up a DIY Nativity Scene, offering readers valuable tips and tutorials. The beauty of a homemade Nativity Scene, regardless of the skills and means of those who create it, lies in the desire to honour an ancient and well-established tradition in our country, an experience to be shared with the rest of the family, perhaps involving the children at home to see the magic take shape step by step. And what could be more magical and evocative than a Nativity Scene with a waterfall and river, with real flowing water bubbling and capturing the reflections of the Christmas tree lights?

There is not just one method to recreate a water effect in the Nativity Scene. We propose three different systems to discover how to make the river, fountain, or pond in the Nativity Scene, so that you can choose the one that best suits your needs in terms of time, space, budget, and so on. The common element in all these methods will be simplicity, and you will be amazed at how, in just a few simple steps, you will achieve a stunning Nativity Scene water effect!

Electric Rivers, Cascades, and Fountains for Nativity Scenes

The simplest and most immediate method to recreate the water effect in your Nativity Scene, for a stream, a small river, or a fountain for the Nativity Scene, is to use a plug-and-play pump. What is it? Nativity Scene pumps are essential accessories for creating evocative moving water effects, such as streams for Nativity Scenes, landscapes with cascades, and much more. These are small motorised pumps that connect to the mains and draw water from a container, creating a recirculation within a defined circuit. Simply fill the container with water before plugging the pump in, and it will immediately start to move the water with an extraordinary effect. Electric pumps for Nativity Scenes are extremely easy to install and do not require special maintenance. Safe and certified, they can be used even if there are children in the house, without the risk of short circuits or electric shocks. There are submersible pumps of small size that are placed directly inside the container that will hold the water to be moved, suitable for ponds, fountains, and streams, or external pumps that allow for much more complex and evident aquatic effects, such as rivers and cascades.

Some examples? The characteristic terracotta fountain decorated with moss and cork and powered by an electric pump. Just fill the water container and connect the plug to the mains, and the water will begin to bubble gently. The same applies to the working fountain for Nativity Scenes, featuring an ornamental tree, perfect for a miniature DIY Nativity Scene, or the fountain with trough for the Nativity Scene. Our pump-operated fountains for Nativity Scenes are all made in Italy by skilled artisans.

Nativity fountain in terracotta 13x12x12cm
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Electric fountain with tree 15x10x20 cm for Nativity Scene with 8-10 cm figurines
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Nativity fountain with drinking trough 16x10x16cm
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Clothes line dripping white fountain with Pump 20x14x17 cm for a Nativity scene
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Modular and Customisable Rivers

If, on the other hand, you are wondering how to build a river in the Nativity Scene without particular moving effects, the winning answer is to use our modular rivers. This is an innovative solution for a DIY Nativity Scene river. It consists of different pieces that realistically reproduce parts of the river and can be arranged sequentially to create a unique and personalised river, just as your Nativity Scene will be unique. The most interesting aspect of this solution is that you can change the arrangement and course of your river each year, combining the pieces you have already purchased or adding new ones. A great advantage! In addition to modules that feature only the stretch of river, you will also find others enhanced with additional details, such as islets and small bridges made from cork, tiny figures, or even picturesque ponds where the river flows in and out.

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Bridges, streams and fences for Nativity scene

In this department you’ll find a selection of bridges, streams, and fences of real cork and moss for your nativity.

DIY Nativity Scene River

Finally, let’s see how to make a fake river for the Nativity Scene without particular moving effects and without modular elements, but using gravel, iridescent resin granules with a water effect, and stones for an extraordinarily realistic effect. This is the most DIY method possible, but it also offers the advantage of allowing you to personalise every single aspect of your river or stream, relying solely on your creativity and manual skills. On the downside, it is not replicable: after the festive season, you will not be able to store it, but will have to collect each individual element that makes it up and reposition it the following year. Another advantage of this method for building a river for the Nativity Scene is that it is incredibly inexpensive. If you take a look at our online store, you will see that all the elements you need to create it cost very little, from the blue glass colour gravel for the Nativity Scene to the transparent resin granules in blue or PVC, available in different sizes, to the fine white gravel, for constructing pavements and settings for DIY Nativity Scenes.

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Moss, Trees, Palm trees, Floorings

Synthetic or natural moss, real straw, synthetic trees or tree made using natural lichen, cork and stones.

Then you can enhance your river with many details to make it even more realistic and beautiful, using the countless accessories you will find in our store, useful for building and personalising your Nativity Scene step by step, from synthetic or natural moss to lichens, real straw, synthetic trees and palms, as well as infinite miniature objects, tools, and accessories, ideal for every type of Nativity Scene.