Nativity scene made of snow unveiled in High Tatras

Cottager Peter Petras, 68, along with his son on Tuesday - the feast of Epiphany - unveiled a Bethlehem nativity scene made of snow at Rainer's Cottage in the High Tatra Mountains. According to Petras, they've been somewhat late with the nativity scene, which is also smaller than in previous years, as snow was scarce even in the mountains until after Christmas. Hundreds of tourists attended the ceremonial unveiling of the nativity scene at the stroke of noon of Epiphany, which is a national holiday in Slovakia. Petras noted that the nativity scene this year is a "result of compromise", as it's only four metres wide and around three metres high. "Given the small amount of snow, it isn't so much about the number of shovelfuls of snow that we've brought here, but it's more about the number of kilometres we've walked with shovels in hands", said Petras. At the first glance, the snow figure of Saint Joseph in the nativity scene seems to resemble Petras himself. He claims that he didn't have such an intention while creating it, however. "People tend to think that any sculpture I make with moustache should portray me," said Petras, smiling. A female tourist from Bratislava who attended the ceremony told TASR that she visits it every year with her husband, and this time they also brought along their grandchildren. "We came from Bratislava just to see the snow nativity scene and support Mr. Petras", she said.