The 1st of January is a day of obligation for Catholics, dedicated to the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God.
I easily found the Church of St. Eugenia in Kungsträdgårdsgatan 12 and was told by the woman at the entrance that, inside, it looked really nice.
Once I stepped inside the church I realised she meant "nice" in a Swedish minimalist modernist kind of way rather than in an Italian baroquishly ebullient way.
What attracted my attention was the Neapolitan Presepe (Nativity Scene) they had there. I've always been obsessed with nativity scenes and, as a teenager, I spent entire afternoons building massive ones at home with rare papier mache pieces, accessorising it with little things, from clay dishes to clothes hanging on a washing line.
Neapolitan nativity scenes are my favourite, though, since each character wears real clothes and accessories that are usually handmade by craftsmen usually based around the San Gregorio Armeno area of Naples where, quite a few years ago, I bought some little amazing accessories for my own nativity scene handmade with wax (fashion designers take note!).
I think the most beautiful Neapolitan nativity scene I've ever seen is the Presepe Cuciniello at the San Martino Certosa and Museum, which is simply fantastic, with so many characters and details you could spend a day in front of it. Though obviously smaller, I really liked the nativity scene I unexpectedly found in St Eugenia's.
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