Living Nativity – Historical Re-enactment "The Nativity"

A Christmas tradition nearly half a century old

The Living Nativity – Historical Re-enactment "The Nativity" is one of the most cherished events in the Abruzzo Christmas calendar. Established in 1978 by Father Marcello Di Girolamo, it takes place every year in the historic center of Colonnella, a small hillside village in the province of Teramo overlooking the Tronto Valley, on the border between Abruzzo and the Marche. On the evening of Epiphany, the town dims its standard lights and glows with torches, braziers, and voices: the medieval alleys become the streets of a meticulously reconstructed Bethlehem.

A journey through evangelical scenes and ancient crafts

Visitors walk through the alleys of the historic center, exploring dozens of scenes spread across small squares, courtyards, and private homes opened for the occasion. Alongside the evangelical tableaux – the Annunciation to Mary, the Visitation, the Census, and Herod's Court – an entire village of yesteryear comes to life, populated by artisans and figures of ancient daily life:

• historical trades of the blacksmith, cooper, potter, coppersmith, knife grinder, and cheesemaker;
• musicians with bagpipes, dancers, fire-eaters, and jugglers;
• Roman soldiers on horseback, money changers, augurs, scribes, and astrologers.

The highlight is the Nativity, featuring the Holy Family and the arrival of the Magi, the emotional heart of the entire re-enactment.

A choral commitment of the town

The event is the result of an entire community's hard work: over two hundred participants, including actors, organizers, and homeowners who open their houses, coordinated by the San Cipriano and San Giovanni Evangelista parishes together with the Municipality of Colonnella, a citizens' committee, and local associations "Amici del Cuore" and "San Giovanni Street". Along the route, there are refreshment points serving mulled wine, traditional sweets, and Abruzzo specialties.

An appeal that crosses regional borders

While remaining deeply rooted in the village's identity, the Colonnella Nativity attracts visitors every year from all over Abruzzo and the Marche, as well as foreign tourists from Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Admission is always free, confirming the popular and community-driven nature of the initiative, which over the years has become a small symbol of Christmas in the province of Teramo.