While the birth of any child is a joyous occasion, celebrated in most families, the birth of a baby girl was celebrated by the entire village. This was because for the past three decades, no one in the village had seen a baby born, and no one had heard the sound of a baby crying.
When, after a long wait of almost 30 years, in March 2025, the sound of a baby crying was heard in the small Italian village of Pagliara dei Marci, it became a cause for celebration.
A newborn baby girl has become the apple of the village’s eye. The baby’s name, Lara Busi Trabuco, became famous immediately after her birth. She brought the village back into the spotlight, as it was the first baby born there in almost 30 years. For a long time, the village had become a symbol of silence and emptiness. Young families had moved to the cities in search of work and a better life. Schools were closed, and the village’s population was decreasing every year. Most houses were closed year-round, and only the elderly lived in the village.
Celebrations in the entire village on the birth of a girl
Lara’s birth was not only a moment of joy for her parents, Cinzia Trabuco and Paolo Bussi, but also a celebration for the entire village. Almost every villager was present at her baptism. People who had left the village years ago returned. Outsiders also started coming after hearing Lara’s story. “People who didn’t even know the name of this village are now coming here,” Lara’s mother told the media. “At just nine months old, Lara has become famous.” Today, the village, located in the Abruzzo region, is home to just a few dozen people. Like many mountain villages in Italy, it is struggling with population decline. With neither employment opportunities nor good transport, young people are unable to stay.