Religious toys were quite popular in Europe (especially in Italy) in the 19th and early 20th centuries and served to introduce children to religious rituals and to stimulate their spiritual life. Religious cells, miniature altars fully equipped with liturgical vessels, or beautifully decorated chapels were intended to encourage children to make voluntary vocations and join convents. Games such as "wedding", "baptism" and "funeral" familiarised children with the significance of important life events or the difficult subject of death, which is difficult to discuss directly.

The origins of sacred toys from Catholic culture date back to the 13th century,
and their homeland was Naples, where the first nativity scene was built - a toy with a strong religious context. In a fairly short time, the passion for making more and more elaborate nativity scenes spread throughout the area and everyone - royalty and Italian aristocracy, craftsmen and poor peasants alike - made it a point of honour to make the most beautiful nativity scene. They were made with great realism and, although the main figures were the Holy Family, the whole setting for the birth of Jesus was transferred to the narrow streets of Naples, where all the richness and variety of Italian architecture, craftsmen's workshops, merchants' stalls and the interiors of the houses were shown. The human figures were dressed in elaborately sewn clothes, the dolls' shoes were leather and the jewellery was gold and silver. All objects and ornaments were made with detail and attention to the smallest details, from natural materials - for example, tiny roof tiles, bricks and pots were fired from clay and tin or brass vessels were cast by folklorists. In the provinces, whole families were gainfully employed in making tiny fish, cheese, fruit and vegetables from clay and wood, which looked "alive" when painted.