SW News: On December 3, the Vatican will witness the unveiling of the Nativity Scene and the lighting of the Christmas Tree. Cardinal Fernando Vergez Alzaga, the President of the Governorate of the Vatican City State, will preside over the ceremony, which will also be attended by Sister Raffaella Petrini, the Secretary-General.

This year’s Nativity Scene and tree were gifted by the hamlet of Sutrio in northern Italy and the central Italian region of Abruzzo, respectively. The Vatican Governorate issued a statement saying that a White Fir tree which is 30-meter high was sent from Rosello in Abruzzo. This village with just 182 inhabitants dates back to the Middle Ages and is home to the Benedictine Abbey of San Giovanni in Verde. It is also home to the tallest tree, a Silver Fir that is 54 meters tall.

Young residents of the La Quadrifoglio psychiatric rehab center have prepared the ornaments for the tree this year. The creche from Sutrio is made of wood and has a semi-circle that functions as the cave where life-size figures of the Holy Family will be placed. This village is famous for its Magic of Wood festival every year where many artists from northern Italy, Austria and Slovakia congregate.

The cedar wood for the statues was sourced from trees that were axed by expert gardeners who take care of public and private nurseries. There will also be a Nativity Scene in Paul VI Hall and it is a gift from the government of Guatemala. It comprises the figures of Our Lady, the Baby Jesus, St Joseph, and three angels which were handcrafted by local artists and they wear ethnic fabrics.

The Nativity Scenes and the tree can be viewed by the public until January 8, the feast of the Baptism of Jesus. Every year, the Nativity Scenes in the Vatican sport traditional motifs or figures from a particular country lending a touch of universality to Christmas.