Woman with baby Landi cm.10

The woman with the child is very common on the crib and is placed near the grotto. Popular tradition says that a young virgin named Stefania, after having heard of the birth of the Redeemer, walked towards the cave to adore him but was blocked by the angels, because it was not allowed to unmarried women to visit the Madonna. The next day Stefania took a stone, wrapped it in swaddling clothes as if it were a child and, deceiving the angels, managed to reach the cave. In the presence of Our Lady, the stone miraculously sneezed and turned into a child who took the name of Stephen. The 26th of December, celebrated as Saint Stephen, is therefore the anniversary of the miracle.