The First Christmas Living Nativity – Misserio

The Misserio Living Nativity

The «The First Christmas» Living Nativity is a traditional Nativity representation that brings the district of Misserio—a small hillside hamlet of Santa Teresa di Riva, in the province of Messina—to life every December. Promoted by the San Vito Martire Parish of Misserio, the event transforms the village's narrow alleys and courtyards into an itinerant path that recreates the village of Bethlehem, complete with the Holy Family, shepherds, the Three Wise Men, and numerous scenes of daily life and traditional crafts.

«E Diu si fici carni»

The performance bears the Sicilian title «E Diu si fici carni» («And God became flesh»), which encapsulates its religious and popular essence: the Nativity story told through the local dialect and community traditions. Dozens of local residents of all ages don period costumes and animate the scenes along the route, guiding visitors through an intimate and evocative atmosphere filled with lights, fires, and the sounds of ancient trades.

A Growing Tradition

Launched in 2022, the event has grown year after year to become one of the most anticipated Christmas appointments in Santa Teresa di Riva. The Misserio Living Nativity is part of the broader Christmas calendar of the Municipality of Santa Teresa di Riva, which offers around twenty events annually, including concerts, recitals, bingo nights, and sacred performances, enlivening the town center and its hamlets until Epiphany.

A Village That Tells Its Story

Nestled on the hills overlooking the Ionian coast of Messina, Misserio retains the charm of small Sicilian villages, with its San Vito Martire church and stone houses. During the living nativity, the district opens its doors to those wishing to pause and experience the magic of Christmas, rediscovering the values of sharing and hospitality that have always defined this community in the Sicily Region.