Simple Pleasures: A Neapolitan Touch for Christmas

During a visit to the Italian American Emporium in Little Italy, New York, I came across a charming batch of terracotta figurines—tiny, expressive hands frozen in il gesto del carciofo, the classic pinched-fingers gesture, imported straight from San Gregorio Armeno in Naples. Their warmth, humor, and unmistakable cultural flair struck me immediately, and I realized they’d make perfect stocking stuffers for Christmas: small tokens of Southern Italian spirit, crafted with the same wit and artistry that have defined Naples for centuries.