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In Chicago, a woman named Fluvia Reyes has transformed her living room into a captivating Nativity scene.
Visitors from various places arrive with gifts, eager to witness the display of the baby Jesus. Additionally, there’s an unexpected element that many are calling a miracle.
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Within her modest North Side living room, Reyes engages her neighbors with readings from “El Mártir de Golgotha,” a cherished 19th-century novel about the life of Jesus Christ. This book, along with the baby Jesus figure, are central to her treasured Nativity scene, both having been lovingly preserved through generations in her family.
“It has been passed down from my great-grandfather, then my grandfather, and subsequently my father,” Reyes explained.
The Nativity scene is an extraordinary spectacle, consisting of hundreds of pieces. Some are as ancient as the baby Jesus figure itself, while others have been gifted by visitors from across the city and suburbs, enriching her collection annually. Each year, assembling the scene is a meticulous two-week endeavor.
“For me it’s important to keep the old tradition,” Reyes said.
The baby Jesus itself was passed down to her in 1978. But she recalls, even as a young child-people coming to her family’s home in Guatemala to pray alongside it.
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“People, they donated,” Reyes said. “They came from the mountains. They bring apples, fruit for the baby Jesus.”
Visiting on Wednesday, her neighbors, also with Guatemalan roots, explained why they are drawn to stop by year on year.
“I’ve been coming to enjoy her Nativity and her company,” neighbor Dora Jimenez said. “It’s so special knowing it’s from Guatemala where my mother came from… growing up, putting the Nativity was definitely the priority and something that was emphasized more so than putting up your tree.”
While it’s impossible to for her determine the exact age of the baby Jesus, Reyes estimates it’s at least 150 years old, the same as her book.
By the time the Christmas season is over, Reyes says several dozen people will have stopped by to pay homage to her baby Jesus.
