A group of men have joined forces to launch something which they've been repeating every year for the past six years. This being its seventh Christmas on show, their collection of unique handmade cribs, entitled Fantasia dei Presepi, has opened to the public yet again in the village of at Aci Sant' Antonio, a municipality in the province of Catania, Sicily and located just 10km north-east of the city of Catania.

The men include Roberto Musmeci, Germano Torrisi, Rosario Cannaró, Nino Tropea and Mario Indelicato who form part of the Associazione Fantasie dei Presepi, which organises the annual Mostra dei Presepi Animati.  Their common passion is cribs and each one creates his own interpretation of that distant location in Bethlehem wherein the Christ Child was born so many centuries ago. Each interpretation is in fact unique, providing an aspect of mundane life rendered fairy-tale-like through mundane yet fantastic semblances of entire village spaces and respective village lives.

One crib has its own volcano, eruptions and all, depicting the very Sicilian and turbulent Etna as a backdrop to the nativity scene. Another crib is typically oriental in style, while yet another is somewhat resembling a northern village scene in the mountains. Market scenes, a mosque and figurines in diverse sizes all take part. One particular crib includes figurines which are more akin to marionettes due to their size, their ingenuously and carefully created outfits, as well as their extensive degree of mobility.

All cribs are fully automated and made of a variety of materials including wood, polyester, cardboard, cork, recycled objects, fabrics, textiles, and so on. Work on the Fantasia dei Presepi project starts once the show ends on January, with the old crib being phased out and everything starting afresh - new ideas, new materials, new choreography.... Each man is directly inspired by his own personal background, so for instance one crib on show depicts various aspects of a lumberer and his profession since the creator of the crib comes from a long line of lumberers.

Whoever visits these cribs will remain entranced, much like a child with his or her eyes looking out for curiosities. Watch out for the Roman soldier and local girl stealing a kiss in a shaded corner, the market vendor trying to sell carpets, the villager lifting water from a well, the housekeeper cleaning the house, the donkeys, the cattle, the sheep, the water fountains, the rivulets... each crib to his own.

Across the grounds from the collection of annually transformed cribs is another crib, the first one which inspired it all and which has been permanently displayed for the past few years. It belongs to Germano Torrisi, who proudly shows visitors around, pointing out details, giving out information. The mountain village scenery is idyllic, rendered even more beautiful with play of light and music. Fantasia dei Presepi becomes the perfect Christmas event for old and young alike, allowing one to experience the ambience of a Sicilian Christmas. The event also provides musical entertainment and food stalls with typical traditional food and refreshments for visitors.

Fantasia dei Presepi is open to the public until 6 January at Via Santa Maria La Stella 75, Aci Sant'Antonio, Catania. For further information phone on +39 347 275 0781 or visit www.fantasiadeipresepi.com