Page 6 - Italian-American Herald - December 2024

6 ITALIANAMERICANHERALD.COM | DECEMBER 2024 ITALIAN-AMERICAN HERALD
TRADITIONS
ruffl ed hair. The block of wood was selected
carefully, usually from where the roots of the
tree fused with the trunk as it represented the
connection between the earth and the sky
and the unity of family.
The tradition of building a wooden
pyramid to hold gifts began in Germany
but then spread to other countries. They
placed gifts inside, some small and others
larger depending on the wealth of the family.
In Italy this became known as La Piramide
Natalizie but was also sometimes referred to
as Il Ceppo di Natale. While some pyramids
held gifts others would have Nativity scenes
placed inside as well.
In some rural villages a straw-fi lled rag
doll with a basket would be hung outside the
home and left there until a knock on the door
was heard during the evening meal. Family
members would ask “Who’s there?” with a
reply of “the log.” Someone would open the
door and pull in the doll which was now
fi lled with presents.
The tradition of creating a crib or Nativity
scene has been traced to St. Francis of Assisi,
who in 1223 constructed one in a cave in the
town of Greccio where he held a Christmas
Eve mass and a Nativity pageant. Up to the
16th century, the presepi would consist of
three fi gures – the baby in the crib and two
“Il Ceppo di Natale”
from “The Book of Days”
(1864)
by Robert Chambers.
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