Fontanini nativity sets: adding Italian tradition to your home this Christmas

Fontanini is one of Italy's most well-respected "Presepe", or nativity, makers - one of the most popular of Italian Christmas traditions.

Here's how you can include that tradition in your home this holiday season.

Detail from a Fontanini nativity scene

If you've ever been in Italy in December you'll know how low-key Italian Christmas decorations are. It's a much less commercialised time than in either America or the rest of Europe, largely because of the country's deeply religious background.

Nativity sets are the one exception to that - the time when Italian people really go overboard. It's not just the stable scene - they create entire villages complete with shops, artisans, animals - and many, many angels.

But obviously, the main focus of even the most elaborate nativity village is the stable scene itself - and that's where we start too.

Here's a selection of Fontanini's beautiful Christmas nativity sets available for you to buy. If you're in the US, click on any of the images to buy. From the UK you'll see a link in the text underneath the pic.

Please be aware that there are many poor copies of these sets on the market. Outside Italy, Fontanini sell their products only through their long-standing partner, Roman. All the nativity scenes featured here are genuine Fontanini.

General features

All Fontanini nativity sets are made from child-friendly durable polymer - if you see reviews saying they're made of plastic or rubber, the reviewers are either mistaken or have bought a copy, not an authentic Fontanini.

All the figures are traditionally hand-painted in Italy. One of the features of Fontanini sets is the vibrant colours, which last literally for generations.

The stables vary in design from year to year. They're made from a light wood, and the roof is generally covered with moss. When you receive your nativity you may find the moss has dried out - sometimes because of rough handling during shipping, it may become detached.

To fix that, simply use a glue to attach it back on, or - if the moss looks as though it's completely finished - you'll be able to buy replacement inexpensively at any craft shop.

Each set comes boxed, and the characters have a "story card" which adds to the charm of these sets.

If you'd like more information about the Fontanini company before you buy, please see this article.

An excellent starter set : the 5" nativity scene

If you - or whoever you're buying for - are just starting to build up your nativity scene, this set is a good place to begin. It comes with a nicely designed stable, and 6 pieces - the Holy Family two sheep and the Angel.

It's relatively inexpensive and it's a good size.

We've found this is a great gift for a young family who would like a starting point for their nativity collection.

Just as Italians do - choose characters who remind you of other members of the family!

Click here for more information and to purchase.

An ideal family choice : a different 5" stable scene

One of the great advantages of this set is that you can add to it year on year - the Fontanini 5" range has a total of two hundred figures available. So if you want to build an elaborate nativity scene on an Italian scale this is a great place to start.

This set is slightly more elaborate having 11 figures within the stable: the Holy Family, an angel, the three kings, the ox, donkey and two sheep - plus the manger.

We've found it to be an ideal gift for a couple who are perhaps just starting out their life together. Luxuries such as this are not high on their priority list but Fontanini nativity figures are collectable and make an ideal starting point for a family heirloom.

So as well as settling your Christmas gift ideas for years to come, you'll be providing a beautiful piece of history for your family.

Click on the image or here to purchase.

Why the Fontanini nativity set is so unique.

If you'd like to see more detailed information about the Fontanini company, and why their products are so popular, click on this pic.

A tiny company in northern Italy, Fontanini employ only skilled craftspeople who hand-paint every nativity scene.

None of Fontanini's nativity sets are mass-produced. Each one is unique.

Because they want to maintain their status as niche producers, they only export in relatively small numbers and to a very small number of companies within the United States.

It is very difficult to obtain Fontanini figures anywhere else, apart from within Italy itself.

All those factors make Fontanini products very collectable and a wonderful addition to family Christmas decoration collections as 'heirloom' pieces.

If you're looking for something similar but a bit different, try these pages.

More suggestions for you

You can find other options for Fontanini nativity sets here on Amazon.

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