Stefania
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The woman with child is extremely common in the nativity scene and is placed close to the grotto. According to popular tradition, a young virgin woman named Stefania learned about the birth of the Redeemer and headed off towards the grotto to worship him. The angels, however, blocked her path because only married women were allowed to visit the Virgin Mary. The following day, Stefania wrapped a rock in swaddling clothes as if it was a baby, deceived the angels and managed to reach the grotto. In the presence of the Virgin Mary, the rock miraculously sneezed and turned into a real baby who was named Stephen. Therefore, since that day, the 26th of December is St. Stephen’s day.