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Clinton, Obama decorate Italy nativity scenes (coffee mugs down, alert!)
Reuters ^ | December 4, 2007

Posted on 12/05/2007 6:25:38 AM PST by NYer

NAPLES, Italy (Reuters Life!) - If you are looking for something different for your nativity scene this year, head to Italy's city of Naples where you can buy miniature replicas of U.S. presidential candidates to place next to your baby Jesus.

The production of handmade nativity scene figurines is big business in Naples and has been since the eighteenth century.

Thousands of angels, sheep and Marys and Josephs fill market stalls at this time of the year as shoppers choose their personal way to tell the Christmas story.

Tradition requires that the nativity scene be built up over time until Christmas Eve, when baby Jesus is put in the manger as the very last element of the display.

As always, figurine-makers provide a chance to choose a more lighthearted approach for the scene providing replicas of personalities who have made the news during the last year.

This year the American presidential candidates are on offer with miniature copies of Democratic candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama alongside Republican candidates John McCain and Rudolph Giuliani.

"I made the U.S. primaries nativity crib' said proud figurine-maker Gennaro di Virgilio in the packed alleyways of the Spanish Quarter.

"The figures are the top runners as U.S. president. Look, we have Hillary Clinton, Obama, McCain and Giuliani. I hope, however, that Hillary wins. I think she is one of the favorites in America. Her husband was a great man," he said.

Another popular figurine this year is that of opera legend Luciano Pavarotti who died in September.

But despite many making a special effort to keep up the tradition of handmade nativity scenes in the home at Christmas it maybe is not quite so important for the younger generation.

"I like nativity cribs but I prefer the Christmas tree, even if just by a tiny bit," said nine-year-old Francesco.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: bho; christmas; hillary; italy; naples; nativity; obama
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To: NavyCanDo

I was a little later than you. I did a few on the Ike (CVN-69), and a couple more on the Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71). Good to see another “bird farm” sailor on FR.


61 posted on 12/05/2007 11:02:15 AM PST by P8riot (I carry a gun because I can't carry a cop.)
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To: NYer

He didn’t get Hillary’s cankles big enough!

Come to think of it, she is not appropriately bottom heavy, but her feet look pretty big.


62 posted on 12/05/2007 12:12:55 PM PST by SpinyNorman (The ACLU empowers terrorists and criminals, weakens America, and degrades our society.)
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To: NYer
And they had to leave the country to do this?

I suppose they wouldn't be caught anywhere near a nativity scene in the USA out of fear of offending the Church/State Separation crowd.

-PJ

63 posted on 12/05/2007 12:17:41 PM PST by Political Junkie Too (Repeal the 17th amendment -- it's the "Fairness Doctrine" for Congress!)
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To: Political Junkie Too
I guess I read this wrong. It's only dolls.

Sorry.

-PJ

64 posted on 12/05/2007 12:18:41 PM PST by Political Junkie Too (Repeal the 17th amendment -- it's the "Fairness Doctrine" for Congress!)
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To: r9etb

McCain looks suprisingly like Senator Byrd....


65 posted on 12/05/2007 12:24:04 PM PST by duckbutt ( If you let a smile be your umbrella, then most likely your butt will get soaking wet.)
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To: NYer

Not a wise man or a virgin to be found.


66 posted on 12/05/2007 12:26:07 PM PST by andy58-in-nh (Kill the terrorists, secure the borders, and give me back my freedom.)
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To: Quix

ok you got me


67 posted on 12/05/2007 12:28:40 PM PST by Mom MD (The scorn of fools is music to the ears of the wise)
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To: NYer; nutmeg; Cacique

The best things about Natale Napolitano are marzipan and turrone!


68 posted on 12/05/2007 2:57:38 PM PST by Clemenza (Rudy Giuliani, like Pesto and Seattle, belongs in the scrap heap of '90s Culture)
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