In a stable in a tiny town called Bethlehem, Mary and Joseph knelt near a manger. Their newborn child, just named Jesus, lay on a bed of hay. As the child cooed, Mary pondered the great events that had come to her in the past year's time. She thought of all the struggles and joys she and her husband had faced in the past year. It all began one night in Mary's humble home in Nazareth. The Italian tradition of recreating the Nativity scene began centuries ago. Four generations of the Fontanini family have brought this time-honored Italian tradition into homes all over the world. These marvelous Nativity figures are still crafted in Bagni di Lucca, a charming Italian village nestled in the hills of Tuscany. Created in virtually unbreakable polymer, the figures are hand-painted and given a rich patina finish by skilled artisans. They glow with the look of antique wood, yet are sturdy enough to stand up to years of loving use by the entire family.