Three Men Wise

Between Christmas and Epiphany, an ancient tradition comes back to life in Val di Fassa - a tradition made of songs, lights and small gestures handed down through generations. As evening settles over the villages, the "stelari" appear in the streets: a group of singers dressed as the Three Wise Men, accompanied by as many shepherds. Moving from house to house, they carry a large illuminated star, crafted from wood and coloured paper and fixed to a long pole, turning slowly as if guiding their path.

At 5 p.m., in front of the nativity scene set up by the square in front of the tourist office in Vigo, the group from Pozza will announce the birth of Jesus the Saviour with a repertoire of songs in Italian and Ladin, curated in collaboration with maestro and choir director Stefano Lazzer. Among the melodies echoing through the winter air are "L’é nasciù l divin Bambin" (from the French "Il est né le divin enfant"), "Tu scendi dalle stelle", "Un bimbo trema" and the Italian version of "We Three Kings", composed by John Henry Hopkins Jr.