These are real Christmas villages. I started to collect figures years ago, every time in Rome, (the most important place to acquire is Naples Italy), but I traveled more often to Rome, at a specialized shop I found, but there's of families that are antique heirlooms, even centuries old. This is a video of one belonging to a noble family of Spain. In Spanish the village is called "Belen", Belenes in plural, because re-creating Bethlehem. Some do somewhat of an invitation only type of open house to see their family Belen, and usually verbal invitation. This is traditional Spain and Italy, before Santa Claus and Christmas trees. There are a few Belenes museums. (THAT'S why I laughed at ignorant comments saying that Catholic Christmas is "paganism".) Any girl or woman called "Belen" in Spain, her name is Bethlehem, and it's not too uncommon, but depending on where in Spain, because it's usually Andalusian, but I've known a few in Aragon, certainly also in Madrid Spain. I remember my mother setting up the Belen as a child, and taking up half a room, with ponds and running water, tree barks, natural green moss, the works. Sometimes 17th and 18th century Napolitan figures are sold in auctions in Madrid Spain. This one in the video, 250 years old, is no doubt originally from Naples Italy, but beautifully made in Spain,,a different unique style exists, and there used to be a specialty store, very downtown, totally center of Madrid, near "La Puerta del Sol".
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