Celebrating the festive season also goes hand in hand with people looking to honor their religion. Nativity scenes are a popular way many do this, including one Rhode Island man who has been working on his masterpiece for nearly 50 years.
Eugenio “Geno” Milano moved to Providence, Rhode Island, 40 years ago from Italy and has been setting up an annual nativity scene as a tradition passed down from his father ever since. “All of this tradition was left to me by my father, and I remember when my father was doing it when I was four years old,” Milano said. “I started in 1975 and every year was a little bit different.”
The collection has grown to more than 400 pieces and was originally set up on the third floor of his home until it grew too large and was moved to the ground floor.
“As we got older, this got bigger, and it would cover our living room set,” Milano’s daughter, Cinzia Pereira, said. “There would be nowhere to sit, and we wanted a Christmas tree at that time so he decided to move it outdoors.”
The incredible scene is now located in a Plexiglass shed outside his home so the scene is still visible to the public without being in danger from the weather. Milano continues to be pleased to be able to share his hobby with the local community.
“I’m happy I’m making people happy because I got a lot of people coming around and they come in and see inside and they enjoy it because they never see something in a private property like that,” Milano said. “I take it down January 6, because in Italy we celebrate the Epiphany.”