Easter is getting closer, carrying its solemn suggestions and symbols full of spirituality. The Easter Cross, candles, lamb. Not just simple traditions, but objects of devotion and spiritual renovation. Let’s check them out.

If we should explain what we celebrate for Easter to a child, and what all of the elements that are part of this renowned holiday mean, that would be an easy task.
First, we should explain them that at Easter we celebrate Christ resurrection, and that many of the symbols tied to this holiday, such as the olive, the dove, the egg, the lamb, the bells, the rabbits, the light, all recall such miraculous event that is so important to all faithful.

Therefore, at Easter, we give chocolate eggs, but also chicken eggs, because the egg is a universal symbol that describes the birth of a new life and the rebirth. Easter for Christians is just that, the feast of the rebirth.

Even the Easter rabbits recall the symbolism of the hare, which was associated to Jesus during the first times of Christianism. In fact, just as the hare changes the color of its fur according to the season, Jesus dies and resuscitates, from man into God. Therefore, we can consider rabbits as a symbol of the Resurrection as well.

The light coming from Easter candles is another important symbol of Resurrection. Just as they dispel darkness, Jesus is the light that enlightens the world and defeats the gloom inside men’s hearts through His death and Resurrection.

The Dove is a symbol of peace among men and between man and God. A dove was sent after the Flood to check for signs of life, and thanks to that, God let Noah know that he was not angry with men anymore. The dove is also a symbol of Jesus: by sacrificing himself on the Cross, he set the foundations for a new world made of peace and love.

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Dove facing up

Dove in reconstituted white Carrara marble, 5,91 in.

The olive that welcomed Jesus in Jerusalem is another symbol of peace and feast, just like the bells that sound joyous on Easter Sunday to announce the Resurrection.

About the Easter Lamb, we would like to linger on the traditions it is tied to and on its symbolism, and we’ll try to understand together where the habit of eating lamb for Easter comes from.

The lamb at Easter: symbol and tradition

To that child, we could say that the lamb is a symbol that is always associated to Jesus. In fact, He is always compared to a gentle and kind lamb, who sacrificed himself for all men.
The symbolism of the lamb is obviously more complex than that, and was already present in the Bible before Jesus arrival. The lamb has always represented the purest and more beautiful sacrificial victim, destined to be offered as a sacrifice to God.
In the New Testament, the image of Jesus merges with the image of the lamb. Just like the sacrificial lamb, Christ sacrifices himself for the salvation of Humankind, and like the lamb, he is innocent and pure.

Innocence and absence of guilt are the base of the symbolism of the lamb in Christian religion. In fact, this animal represents also apostles and in general, all martyrs.

Christ resurrects then, and with it, He acknowledges His triumph. The medieval iconography of the Triumphant Lamb comes from that; its head is reclined back, looking at his flock with love and attention, while its right hoof is placed on the emblem of the cross, as if it wanted to summon those who were willing to follow it in its path of Faith and Salvation.

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Lamb and cross Pyx

It has a ring in order to allow wearing it round the neck.

It is not by chance that the Church chose the lamb as a symbol for Jesus: under this image, the weak and the humble are destined to be elevated above the powerful and the strong.

The Lamb is also a symbol of spiritual light. And it is exactly such light that guides the flock of faithful through the darkness of the night.

Why do we eat lamb at Easter?

For many faithful, eating lamb at Easter is actually not a Christian tradition. In fact, there is no mention of sacrifice rituals in the Gospels that can justify the killing of this animal. The only one who sacrificed himself and made himself the sacrificial lamb for the salvation of all men is Jesus.

The tradition of eating lamb at Easter comes from Judaism. For the Jews, Easter was a feast to celebrate the freedom from slavery. The Jewish tradition of eating lamb recalled the lamb blood used to mark the doorjambs of Jewish families that were prisoners in Egypt, and which protected the firstborns from the coming of the ‘exterminator lamb’. During the Jewish Easter, lamb had a sacrificial value, but with a completely different meaning compared to what we find in the New Testament. The Jewish used to sacrifice bucks at the Temple. The Jewish sacrifice of a lamb at Easter was the symbol of their freedom from Egypt. It is very likely that the habit of killing and eating lamb at Easter became part of the Jewish culture later. The Jewish Easter established the offer of a lamb on the 14th day of the Jewish month of Nisan. The flesh of the animal had to be eaten that same night for the sacrifice of Pesach (Pasqua, Easter). ‘They shall eat the flesh that night, roasted on the fire; with unleavened bread and bitter herbs they shall eat it. Do not eat any of the meat raw or cooked in boiling water, but only roasted over the fire—its head and legs and inner parts’ (Exodus 12,8)

It is however undeniable that the lamb was a symbol of pureness and fragility of life in many cultures, including the Jewish one. Through that, the true believer offered something beautiful, pure and precious to God.

On the contrary, Christianism identified Jesus with the Easter lamb. The evangelists themselves presented him so. ‘Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!’ (John 1,29). That is how John Baptist recognizes Jesus when he meets him, already predicting his fate and sacrificial role. Christians celebrate Christ’s death and resurrection by sacrificing a lamb and eating its meat. In such acceptation, the lamb is considered Christ’s Body. Therefore, eating lamb at Easter is a way for Christians to welcome Christ and His sacrifice within them.

As a conclusion, there is a connection between the Jewish Easter lamb and the one we find in the New Testament, which coincides with the figure of Jesus. It is not by chance that Jesus’ death happens on the day before the Jewish Easter, when, according to the Jewish tradition, the lamb was sacrificed.

Lent, a time of penance and little sacrifices. Today we are talking about the Florets of San Francesco, a collection of episodes from the life of the Poverello of Assisi and a fairy tale reconstruction of his preaching.

We talked about the importance of little sacrifices in the Lenten period, about how they can prove to be a precious tool for preparing for Easter with an attitude of penance, profound interior reflection and dialogue with God. And few saints have been able to express closeness to the Almighty, constant dialogue with him, like St. Francis of Assisi, who made love for God, expressed in love for all Creation, his life mission. In addition to the Canticle of creatures, which is the emblem and manifesto of the love and faith of St. Francis, the Florets of St. Francis constitute an emblematic text, in their being imbued with a pure and vibrant religious inspiration, an expression of all those that of the Franciscan teaching were the cornerstones: poverty, love, perfect joy.

In the name of these ideals, Saint Francis, who together with Saint Catherine of Siena, is the patron saint of Italy, renounced everything that belonged to him, everything that was, to embrace a life of absolute poverty, of closeness to the least, in an exasperated and moving Imitatio Christi, in its totality and simplicity.

This choice of life emerges in all its aspects in the foils of St. Francis, referring to us a figure of the saint and his companions who, although undoubtedly idealized in the hagiographic desire to provide an exemplary character, nevertheless still manages to give us a measure of what he is, was the greatness of this saint so far away and yet so close to each of us. Given Holy Easter, perhaps these events narrated with an almost fairytale style could be an inspiration for our Lenten florets.

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Saint Catherine of Siena

St Catherine is depicted with a bouquet of flowers and a book.

What are the Foils of St. Francis

What are the Foils of San Francesco? The origins of the fourteenth-century original are shrouded in mystery. For a long time it was believed to be the translation from Latin of a previous text entitled “Floretum”, a story of Francis and his first companions, attributed to Friar Ugolino da Montegiorgio, author of the medieval Latin work “Actus Sancti Francisci et sociorum eius “, of which the foils may have been the introduction. Another tradition attributes the authorship of the text to Giovanni de ‘Marignolli, a Franciscan friar minor who was bishop and missionary in China.

Although the author remains uncertain, the meaning of the work does not change, that is a collection of stories and legends about the life of St. Francis of Assisi and his disciples, where his preaching and example of life and faith emerge.

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St Francis statue

St Francis wooden statue made in Val Gardena Italy.

Composed in the 1300s, they have come down to us through a series of manuscript codices, up to the first printing in 1476. The work has fifty-three chapters and can ideally be divided into two parts: the first dedicated to St. Francis, his life, his preaching and the birth of the Franciscan order; the second which tells the adventures of the first Franciscan friars of the Marches, who lived in the monasteries of Mogliano, Massa Fermana, Loro, Soffiano and Forano. Friar Ugolino da Montegiorgio himself, presumed author of the work, at the beginning of 1300 stayed in the Convent of Santa Colomba di Mogliano, and perhaps it was precisely at that time that he wrote the Fioretti, then translated into the vernacular.

The thing that is interesting for us is that through the Fioretti di San Francesco we can know all the historical and above all spiritual evolution of the Franciscan order in its first century of existence and diffusion. The 1st chapter already reveals the content of the entire work:

In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ crucified and of his Mother Virgin Mary. This book contains certain little florets, miracles and devout examples of the glorious poor man of Christ Messer Saint Francis and many of his holy companions. To the praise of Jesus Christ. Amen.

In the same chapter the twelve companions of Francis are mentioned, some of whom we will meet in the text. The reference to the twelve Apostles is immediately clear: “And just as those holy Apostles were marvellous to the whole world in holiness and humility, and filled with the Holy Spirit; so those holy companions of Saint Francis were men of such holiness, that from the time of the Apostles in here the world did not have so wonderful and holy men.”

Therefore the Fioretti also tell us with extraordinary vivacity and vividness the events of the companions of Francis, such as Friar Bernardo di Quintavalle, who was the first follower of Francis; Brother Leo, who was close to Francis especially in recent years and to whom the Saint dedicated a personal blessing (Benedictio fratris Leonis) and praise to God (Laudes Dei altissimi), very precious documents that have come down to us; Friar Masseo, one of Francesco’s closest friends, handsome and endowed with a proverbial common sense, which emerges in the little sacrifices dedicated to him together with humility, obedience and love for God; St. Clare, sister of Francis in poverty, bound to him by a very sweet, holy and pure love.

A choral book, therefore, where there is not a single protagonist, as it is right to expect from a humble figure deeply inserted in one’s community of friends and brothers like St. Francis of Assisi.

Carnival is about to end. After Shrove Tuesday there is Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent. But where does this particular festival originate?

What is Ash Wednesday? Where does its strange name come from?
We all know Carnival, that period of celebration in which everything is allowed (or almost), in which we dress up, laugh and feast on typical sweets and tasty foods. We also know that, after Carnival, we enter Lent, the period of penance and fasting that Christians live in preparation for Easter, which lasts for forty days and begins precisely on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Thursday.

Ash Wednesday is a sort of watershed, an important and symbolic passage that decrees the end of the excesses and wildness of Carnival, to enter an atmosphere of austerity, order and rigour. And the faithful immediately begin to immerse themselves in this new way of being. If Shrove Tuesday represents the last chance to celebrate and eat all the rich and fatty foods left at home, Ash Wednesday begins with fasting and abstinence from meat. Moreover, the very name of the carnival contains the meaning of this festival: it derives in fact from the Latin carnem levare, “to remove meat”.

Not all cities or professions of faith make the beginning of Lent coincide with Ash Wednesday. This is the case for Roman-rite Catholic churches and many Protestant churches, but in Milan, for example, the Ambrosian rite is still in force, according to which Lent is postponed by four days, i.e. it begins on the Sunday following Shrove Tuesday, so much so that it is also celebrated on Shrove Saturday in this city. The ashes that characterise this holiday are imposed on Sunday or Monday, while fasting and abstinence are postponed to the following Friday.

What is celebrated on this day?

The Meaning of Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday is a celebration of public penance. Or, to be more precise, it represents the beginning of a process of renunciation and sacrifice aimed at obtaining purification on the morning of Holy Thursday.

The name of this particular event derives from its associated uses of the blessed ash, obtained from the blessed olive branches distributed on Palm Sunday of the previous year, then burned and preserved for this very purpose. This ash is used by the priest to draw a cross on the head or forehead of the faithful during the Ash Wednesday liturgy.

Why is ash used?

Ash has always been a symbol of penance and the transience of earthly life, which makes it essential to convert to obtain the only true immortality. This symbolism linked to human frailty often recurs in the Bible. Let us think of Abraham who addresses God with these words: “See how I dare to speak to my Lord, I who am dust and ashes …” (Genesis 18:27), or Job who says: “He threw me into the mud: I became dust and ashes” (Job 30:19), just to quote two passages.

Likewise, there are many passages in the Holy Scriptures where ash is used as a symbol of penance. After all, the ash was used in the context of manifestations of pain and contrition even by pre-Christian civilizations. In ancient Greece, for example, people sprinkled their heads with ashes to mourn the death of a loved one. In the Middle East, in ancient times, to show condolence or repentance, ash was poured on one’s head or sat or rolled in ashes.

The saying “sprinkle one’s head with ashes” comes from this tradition, and means to feel regret or repentance for something.

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On Holyart bags for olive tree branch for Palm Sunday, 200 pieces

In the Bible we think of Mordecai mourning the fate of all Jews condemned by the cruel King Aman: “He tore his clothes, covered himself with a sack, sprinkled himself with ashes, and went out into the city, sending high and bitter cries” (Esther 4.1). But also to the inhabitants of Nineveh who, converted by Jonah, dress in sacks, while their king sits in the ashes (John 3:5-9), or Judith who invites the people to do penance to invoke God’s help against the invaders: “Every Israelite man or woman and the children who lived in Jerusalem bowed down before the temple and sprinkled their heads with ashes and, dressed in sackcloth, raised their hands before the Lord” (Judith 4:11). Even Jesus himself invokes ashes as a sign of repentance and contrition: “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida; for if the mighty works done among you had been done in Tire and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, taking up the sackcloth and sitting in the ashes” (Luke 10:13).

As early as the 10th century, the custom of blessing the ashes was widespread. The blessing of the ashes is a sacramental, one of the acts of worship instituted by the Apostolic See to obtain spiritual benefits. Those who receive them do so by invoking the spirit of true penance.

In the past, during the Ash Wednesday liturgy, the priest imposed ashes on the foreheads of the faithful by reciting this formula: “Memento, homo, quia pulvis es, et in pulverem reverteris”, Remember that you are dust and to dust, you will return (Genesis 3.19)

With the Second Vatican Council, it was decided to change this formula, which however is still used in the extraordinary form of the Roman rite. The new formula that accompanies the imposition of the ashes is: “Pænitemini, et credite Evangelio”, Get converted and believe in the Gospel (Mark 1, 1-15). This formula is taken from the Gospel of Mark. Here is the passage in full: “After John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the Gospel of God. He said: “The time has come and the kingdom of God has come: get converted and believe in the Gospel”.

The two formulas are actually in some way consequential because whoever is aware of the transience of his human condition, of his inevitable destiny to become dust, can find eternal salvation only in the Gospel and in its promise.The Ash Wednesday liturgy provides for the purple colour for the sacred vestments. The celebrating priest will wear a purple stole and chasuble, while the deacon will wear a purple diaconal and dalmatic stole.

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On Holyart more than 180 priest stoles religious stoles handmade in Italy.

The liturgical celebration provides for the imposition of ashes to replace the penitential act. The priest blesses the ashes after the homily.

Ash Wednesday fasting

Fasting has always existed in all religions. Even today, Muslims celebrate Ramadan, Jews Kippur and Christians Lent.

Christians practise fasting and abstinence from the flesh as penance on certain days of the year, regulated by the apostolic constitution Paenitemini of 17 February 1966 written by Pope Paul VI and detailed in the Code of Canon Law.

In particular, the faithful, from the age of eighteen to sixty, must respect ecclesiastical fasting and abstinence from meat twice a year, on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. On Holy Saturday, the two obligations are recommended.

Fasting doesn’t mean you can’t eat anything. Only one meal is allowed during the day, you can drink water and there are exceptions accepted for the sick and those with various problems.

The custom of observing fasting on Ash Wednesday dates back to San Gregorio Magno, 7th century. Then the Wednesday preceding the 1st Sunday of Lent was called caput ieiunii, “beginning of fasting”, or also caput Quadragesimae, “beginning of Lent”.

Abstinence from meat is also regulated by the Apostolic Constitution Paenitemini. The Catholic Church requires not to eat meat on “lean days”. Friday is considered a lean day, where you can eat fish. This rule applies to all Fridays except those on which a feast of obligation falls or one of the solemnities listed in the liturgical calendar.

Today, we can also consider other forms of abstinence and penance to be practised during Lent, in addition to fasting. Smoking, television, alcoholic beverages, but also the use of social networks. In short, everything that involves a sacrifice on our part can become a way to manifest our desire for purification.

Palm Sunday Bag with dove and olive branch 500 pcs.
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Palm sunday bag for palm strips Holy Family (500 pieces).
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Palm Sunday bag for olive tree branches with image of Jesus Christ with young people 500 pieces.
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Palm Sunday palm strip bag with Holy Family 200 pieces.
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What about giving a religious bracelet for Valentine’s Day? Why not? A classy and original idea for an elegant gift, but with a deep spiritual meaning.

We already dedicated a long article to Valentine’s Day, not just as the lovers feast, a much commercial event with some charming suggestions, but also as a praise to the Roman bishop and martyr, patron of such a special day. Saint Valentine from Terni was bishop in his hometown in the II century, and dedicated his whole life to protect and help persecuted Christians. He was persecuted as well, and made a martyr under Emperor Aurelian.

Many legends about the life of this Saint describe more or less unhappy loves, in which he had a fundamental role as the protector of lovers. Let’s just think about the pagan legionnaire Sabino and the young Christian Serapy, which the Saint united in marriage even though the two believed in different religions, or the two lovers fighting in the Saint’s garden, the first two people he blessed on February 14th, a date that become fixed for lovers pilgrimages of future spouses since then. Or more, the dowry Saint Valentine gave a girl he could not marry because she was too poor.

According to another legend, the Saint was involved in a love story himself. He was arrested at the behest of the Emperor with the accusation of uniting in marriage young Christians, and fell in love with the daughter of his own jailer. He wrote her a long love letter before he died, signing it “From your Valentine”. It is not by chance then that on Valentine’s Day cards young lovers define themselves as each other’s Valentine.

The feast of lovers dedicated to Saint Valentine was celebrated already in the XV century, in the Courtly Love age. Documents and literature prove this tradition, which, throughout centuries, gained more and more frivolous aspects, but which is also a nice occasion to celebrate love.

Then why not giving your ‘Valentine’ something different from the usual chocolate hearts, perfumes, accessories, fashion items or funny gadgets? Holyart offers you an elegant but impressive alternative: bracelets with religious symbols. They’re not just jewels, but not just devotional objects as well. They are both and much more, and will convey the deep love you feel for your beloved one and the spiritual harmony you share.

Let’s see in detail which religious bracelets you can find in our online store.

Silver and golden bracelets

A golden or silver jewel is always appreciated, especially on an occasion such as Valentine’s Day. Holyart offers a wide variety of precious and refined bracelets, but affordable for all budgets. For example, the charming Bracelet in silver 800, classic style and enriched by 12 mother-of-pearl grains. As pendant, it has a small trilobed and finely worked cross.
It is a silver jewel with a sober and young look, and also unique because it is entirely handcrafted by highly skilled workers. A handicraft object then, where the value of the noble metal is tied to the value of the crafting.

A gift that a young mum-to-be will appreciate is the AMEN bracelet with pink foot charm mother of pearl 925 silver, with pink foot charm in mother of pearl.

Among religious bracelets for men, this one stands out: AMEN Saint Benedict leather bracelet with bronze charms. Elegant, but also very manly, for a Valentine that doesn’t want to give up elegance but can also show all of his strength to the woman he loves. Embellished with bronze charms, the bracelet has a circumference of approximately 20,50 cm and a magnetic closure.

Rosary or Decade bracelets

Valentine’s Day can also be a chance to give a rosary bracelet, especially when bracelets are so nice! The bracelet with transparent Swarovski crystals is an elegant rosary decade bracelet with Swarovski crystal grains, delicate and very refined; the rosary bracelet in silver 800 with grains of 6 mm diameter is decorated with real white crystals and the medal of the Miraculous Madonna. Those are bracelets you can wear every day to express your faith, but also to give yourself a further touch of elegance and light.

Silver bracelet and mother-of-pearl beads. Buy Now AMEN bracelet with pink foot charm mother of pearl 925 silver. Buy Now AMEN Saint Benedict leather bracelet with bronze charms. Buy Now 925 silver bracelet with transparent Swarovski crystals. Buy Now Rosary bracelet in 925 silver with white crystals. Buy Now

Prayer bracelet (AMEN)

The prayer bracelet is suitable for any occasion as an important gift and surely of great impact. It can be a winner for both men and women on Valentine’s Day. In fact, in Holyart store you can find prayer bracelets for any style and taste. In particular, you can find Amen Bracelets, entirely made in Italy, in hypoallergenic Steel 316L and vegetal tanning leather, nickel-free, cadmium-free and lead-free. Possible electrolytic rhodium/golden plates are nickel-free.

A more delicate and young option is the AMEN bracelet with angel pendant, the prayer Angel of God engraved on in Italian, white leather and magnetic closure; a modern one is the double row AMEN bracelet in shiny mother-of-pearl thermoplastic. The Our Father prayer is engraved in it. This bracelet is available in different sizes and has a simple silver magnetic closure. Suitable for both men and women, and highly fashionable, is the AMEN bracelet with smooth cross pendant, Our Father prayer in Italian, brown leather and magnetic closure.

Various bracelets

If none of the above really catches your attention, then take a look at our section ‘Various bracelets’. You can find everything here, from leather to hard stones, from crystals to colorful cord knots. A very refined gift could be the amethyst bracelet with 6 mm grains. It is a rosary bracelet, but with an unusual structure in cord and hypoallergenic steel button. In the center, a Miraculous medal in satinized and rhodiated silver 925 stands out. The Elastic bracelet with Murano glass heart is very original and colorful. The bracelet is made of metal beads and heart-shaped grains in Murano glass. The bracelet is made in Italy and is a high quality object.

Amen bracelet, Angel of God in Italian, brown charm. Buy Now AMEN bracelet in thermoplastic, 925 sterling silver and mother of pearl with Our Father incision. Buy Now Amen Bracelet in brown leather Our Father ITA. Buy Now Amethyst bracelet 6mm. Buy Now Elastic bracelet with Murano glass heart. Buy Now

The tree of life is mentioned in the Holy Scriptures, from Genesis to the Apocalypse, as a symbol of life par excellence. Is there really such a special tree?

Men have always attributed a symbolic and religious value to certain trees. Just think of all the religions that have placed them at the centre of their pantheon. Understanding the reasons for this deep connection between man and trees is not easy. Perhaps it arises from the fact that, since the most remote times, men sought shelter and protection in trees, ending up with the role of protective giants, sages, friends. Surely the shape of the tree itself, its vertical development contributed to the deepening of this spiritual bond. The tree unites heaven to earth, the world of gods to that of men, and in doing so it becomes divinity itself, and as such the bearer of the answers to all the questions, to all the contradictions that have always dominated the life of men: Good and Evil, Life and Death, Knowledge, Transmutation, Human and Divine.

Many archaic religions speak of a cosmic axis around which the entire universe would have formed, and which unites sky, earth and the underworld crossing them. An axis that often has the shape of a tree.

However we want to interpret it, the mythology linked to trees, in general, and to the tree of life in particular, is fascinating and has its roots – it must be said … – in the very origins of human history.

In a previous article, we focused on the meaning of the tree of life in the Christian context. We have examined how it is mentioned in the sacred texts, and how its symbolism recurs in Jewish culture and subsequently in Christian culture. According to the Bible, it stood in the middle of the garden of Eden, next to the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

It was thanks to its fruits that Adam and Eve were immortal, immune to the passage of time, old age and disease. With original sin, Adam and Eve lose the right to feed on the fruits of this miraculous tree. Also in this part of the story resides a profound symbolism: by eating the fruits of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, the first man and the first woman lost the right to enjoy the benefits of the tree of life. Their sin was dictated by pride and arrogance. The knowledge of good and evil made them lose their innocence, made them aware of all those feelings and desires that they did not feel before, for the simple fact that in the Earthly Paradise they had everything they needed to be happy, complete. Man was not ready to face those feelings, those emotions, those needs: hatred, lies, shame, envy, blackmail, war.

However, despite the expulsion from the earthly Paradise, the tree of life remains in the sacred texts as a promise of salvation and hope of reconciliation with God, which continues to promise its fruits as a reward to those who will know how to follow the right path. The advent of Christ, the new Adam, the Son who, instead of defying the will of the Father out of pride, submits to it to its extreme consequences, represents a fundamental turning point for the spiritual history of man. And here is that the Cross on which Jesus dies for the salvation of all becomes the new tree of life, a symbol of salvation promised to all those who will know how to follow Christ’s example.

The Tree of Life cross Ambiente Design in wood of Valgardena and wax decorated with gold thread.
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Single decade rosary with rosewood grains and tree of life.
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Printed icon Tree of Life 14x10 cm.
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Amen long necklace with Tree of Life pendant in 925 sterling silver.
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Tree of Life Holy Communion favor 3.5 in.
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AMEN earrings in 925 sterling silver with angel and Tree of Life.
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The symbolism of the tree remains a constant for believers and is still widespread today. The New Age philosophy has relaunched it, recovering above all folkloric and mythological aspects, but the essence of the Christian tradition continues to make it a very expensive and used symbol. For example, the tree of life favour is very popular and used especially for first communion and baptism, while wearing a jewel that depicts this particular symbol, such as a tree of life necklace or a tree of life bracelet is a way to manifest one’s faith in this mystical tree and all that it represents. Giving a jewel that represents him as a gift is a heartfelt wish for a prosperous and happy life, with solid roots, lush like foliage, intense and full of good fruits. For women, it also becomes a symbol of fertility. Given to a newborn baby, it is a way to celebrate a new life that is beginning.

The ‘real’ tree of life

But is there really a tree of life somewhere in the world? In the middle of the Bahrain desert, not far from Djebel Dukhan (the Mountain of Smoke) and 40 km from Manama, stands an ancient tree. It seems to have been here for more than four hundred years, flourishing in a barren, desert land devoid of vegetation.

And yet it lives and thrives, and has exceeded ten metres in height, so much so that it deserves the reputation of a legendary tree and has made the oasis in which it stands one of the most mystical places in the world. The inhabitants of the region have given it the name Shajarat-al-Hayat, “tree of life”, and believe that the tree was planted here in 1583 to indicate the place where the Earthly Paradise originally extended. A bold statement, considering that nowadays the area is completely desert! But some surveys would have shown that, in ancient times, this region was rich in water, and an immense luxuriant oasis and was populated by a multitude of animals of all kinds extended.
The tree in question is a Prosopis cineraria, a shrub able to survive in extremely hostile conditions, thanks to its roots being capable of going down to 50 metres deep. This allows it to draw its nourishment even from arid and barren soil. Its resin produces rubber, candles and perfumes. It is visited by more than 50,000 tourists every year, so much so that it was necessary to protect it with an iron fence to prevent it from being damaged by some vandal. Numerous visitors had got into the bad habit of tearing leaves and twigs to take them away as lucky charms or souvenirs, or they enjoyed leaving their message engraved in its centuries-old trunk. For now, Shajarat-al-Hayat appears to be in excellent health, with large tangled branches, iridescent leaves ranging from green to brown in beautiful and vivid shades, a majestic trunk. It has been like this for over four hundred years, and we hope it will continue to be healthy for a long time to come.

Who said that setting up a Nativity scene is child’s play? It takes inventiveness, planning, a touch of dexterity and obviously the right materials. Here are the tips from our experts on how to build a great DIY nativity scene.

Making a DIY nativity scene is an interesting challenge that everyone should face sooner or later. Above all, the Nativity scene embodies more than any other Christmas symbol the deepest meaning of this wonderful celebration and helps to create in the house that hosts it an intimate atmosphere surrounded by the sense of expectation for the Nativity that is about to be renewed, like every year, in all its sweet mystery. This is why it becomes important to understand how to build a Nativity scene that knows how to express this mystery and bring it into our home, for us and for our family, who on holidays can feel a little closer to another family than in that one magical night he warmed himself in the hut of Bethlehem on the warm breath of an ox and a donkey.

And if we manage to involve the other members of the family in the setting up of the nativity scene, we will only increase that sense of communion, sharing and harmony, transforming the construction of the crib itself into a moment of play and pleasure.

We have already tried to help you in the realisation of your DIY nativity scene with short guides and tutorials to enrich it with movement effects, lights, sounds, running water, and this year too we want to help you as much as possible.

Here are the tips from our experts on how to build a truly sensational nativity scene.

The style

What style do we want to give to our Nativity scene? This is not a trivial question. There are many types of Nativity Scenes in the world, some very far from those we are used to seeing in our homes and our cities. But also by browsing our catalogue we can realize that there are really many different styles of Nativity, from the classic Neapolitan Nativity to the wooden Nativity scenes from Valgardena, or the stylised ones made with Jerusalem olive trees, or even those made in Pyrenean stone by the nuns of the Monastery of Bethleem, France.

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Nativity scenes

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

In general, we can distinguish the Nativity Scenes in Historical Nativity Scenes, which try to emulate the real setting of the birth of Jesus, placing it in an Arab-Palestinian scenario, and Popular Nativity Scenes, which transport the Nativity in a well-known, folkloristic setting, linked to history and the traditions of the country of origin of those who make the nativity scene, such as the Neapolitan nativity scene, just to mention one of the most famous in our country.

The style we decide to adopt will be decisive for creating the background of our Nativity scene, its architecture, and obviously for the choice of the nativity figures, which must reflect the chosen setting.

The space

Once we have established what style we want to use for our Nativity scene, the next step will be deciding where to set it up. The variables to consider are many, and not trivial. It must be a place of passage in the house in a place where visiting family and friends can easily admire it, but, at the same time, we must take care that it does not prevent the carrying out of normal daily activities, that it is not in an uncomfortable position for anyone, in conclusion.

Another important factor is the lighting. Even if we can enrich our DIY nativity scene with lights and lighting effects, it is better to choose a well-lit spot, even with natural light, or at least one that receives sufficient artificial lighting. And if we already have in mind to add lamps and coloured effects, there must be at least one easily usable electrical outlet.

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Nativity lights and lamps

All for the nativity scene lighting and lighting effects for the DIY crib.

An original idea that some people exploit is to build the Nativity scene inside a container: a box, a trunk, an old piece of furniture, or even a television. This allows us to take advantage of a small and limited space, to be filled creatively, creating different levels and scenarios according to our creativity.

More generally, however, those who choose to create a Nativity scene choose to use a table, the top of a piece of furniture, or in any case, a flat surface, which can then be elaborated with boxes and other supports adequately covered and ‘masked’ to create mountains and differences in height that will make the composition of the landscape more lively and varied.

We will have to establish in advance how much our Nativity scene will measure, so as not to find ourselves at a certain point, after we got carried away, to have exhausted the available space! It will also be important to take into account the height of the statues we will use: at least those in the foreground must be clearly visible at eye level, so we will have to choose the height of the base also considering that of the statues themselves. The higher they are, the lower the base can be. But beware of the puppies of the house: dogs, cats and… children, they could find irresistible a Nativity built too low!

The background for the Nativity scene

Once we have found the ideal base we will have to start creating the landscape that will host our Nativity scene. With boxes, pieces of polystyrene, books stacked and then covered with rock paper for Nativity or other pre-printed papers we can raise mountains, hills, dunes, depending on the setting we have chosen. As already mentioned, a landscape arranged on various heights will allow us to play on different perspective levels, making everything much more interesting.

If we have greater skills and dexterity, we could also choose to use papier-mâché, foam rubber, cork, wood, polystyrene adequately worked, modelled and painted according to our needs. Again, we could use chalk to create rock formations, to be made more realistic by adding real stones, earth and sand.

Once we have created our setting we will be able to take care of the buildings, first of all the nativity hut, and then any other houses, taverns, mills, everything that our imagination suggests.

In addition to the landscape, we will also have to set up a real backdrop of our Nativity scene. There are those who choose a painted landscape, some cork panels, or paper for backdrops that perhaps depicts the starry sky, or a landscape of dunes, or even LED screens.

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Nativity scene background

Wallpapers and accessories for the DIY crib, paper and sky backdrops and landscapes of the crib.

The deconstruction into planes

When we design our Nativity scene, we can decide to create it on several levels, or rather on several perspective levels. Usually, it does not go beyond two or three floors maximum, a first floor that immediately catches the eye of those who dwell on the Nativity scene, where the most beautiful and ‘important’ statues are placed, the most detailed and accurate scenarios, and planes reaching up more bare, reduced and less rich in details, but still made with cunning, to give the impression that the whole world we have created is truly rich and surprising, in every aspect!

We will have to be very careful, when we work on different levels, not to ‘impale’ what is behind with what is in the foreground, a bit like what happens in the theatre, where the actors who play on the stage have to be careful not to cover up who stands at the back of the scene.

Statues

Although the figurines for the Nativity scene are the last thing to add, we must have in mind from the beginning which ones we intend to use, because a whole series of evaluations and decisions to be made during the production phase will depend on them. The most trivial evaluation concerns the dimensions and proportions of the scenario that we are going to build, which must be adequate to those of our figurines. This consideration becomes even more complicated if we have decided to structure our Nativity scene on different levels because in this case, we will have to have figurines of different sizes for the various levels, to create a game of effective perspective.

Another essential variable in the choice of figurines for the nativity scene is linked to the style of the nativity scene that we have decided to adopt. There must be coherence between the chosen setting, historical or popular, and the clothing and features of the characters that we will have on it. Naturally, ‘poetic licenses’ are granted: there are those who choose to take care of the scenography accurately and realistically and then perhaps opt for stylised figurines for the Nativity scene, creating a contrast that is not necessarily disturbing. We also described at the beginning of the article the fantasy and originality of certain nativity figurines made by the Neapolitan masters of San Gregorio Armeno. Among footballers and famous actors, you never know who you can find next to the Nativity hut, especially if there are children in the house!

Nativity scene lights

In our store you will find all kinds of lights for nativity scenes, from lamps to accessories for the do-it-yourself nativity scene: street lamps, lamps, fire effect bulbs and small lanterns. Not only that, but there is no shortage of plugs, transformers, extensions, incandescent lights, LEDs and even lights for Nativity scenes with neon, lamp holders, and all the electrical material that can be used to build a Nativity scene with splendid lighting effects in absolute safety.

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Natalino 2+2, day/night fade

Natalino 2+2, day/night fade with 2 phases that can be regulated.

Moss and lichen

The choice of decorating the Nativity scene with moss reminds us of an ancient but always current tradition. Who does not keep among the childhood memories a Nativity scene decorated with tufts of moss artfully arranged, to make the scenography more realistic and suggestive? In addition to moss, sand, gravel pebbles, fragments of wood were used, and for the children, it was wonderful to see those natural materials transform into decorative elements for the Nativity scene.

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Moss, Trees, Palm trees, Floorings

Moss, Trees, Palm trees and flooring accessories to decorate your Nativity Scene.

If things have not changed with regard to stones, wood and gravel, the situation for moss is a bit different. In some areas of Italy today it is forbidden to collect it, as it is considered a protected species. Of course, everyone is free to inquire about the regulations in force in their territory, which involve not only moss but also other plants, but the easiest, most comfortable and safe solution is to buy moss for Nativity scenes from authorised sellers. In our store, you will find a wide choice, already treated properly, dried and ready to decorate the hut and any other part of your Nativity scene in absolute safety.