Nativities Around the World

It’s Christmas season once more. The signs are everywhere. A visit to a store or mall and all the decor will tell you that the Christmas season is here. Christmas themes of late seem to revolve mostly around snow and winter scenes. Snowmen and Christmas trees along with Santa have come to dominate the holiday decor. However, it is important not to ignore the reason there’s a Christmas, the birth of Jesus Christ. One way to celebrate that is to make sure your decor includes a nativity set.

Just this week Pope Francis encouraged people around the world to set up nativity scenes. He noted their many diverse forms when he said, “Great imagination and creativity are always shown in employing the most diverse materials to create small masterpieces of beauty.”

It is some of those small masterpieces I want to share with you. Over the last 25 years or so I have been collecting nativities from around the world. What I have enjoyed is seeing how different cultures have interpreted the Christmas story. For some there are changes in dress and style that reflect their own culture. For others it’s about the type of materials used to create the creche. The top photo of a Zulu nativity combines both.

I currently have about 40 nativities but am in the process of downsizing my collection. I’m not getting rid of all of them, however, and I thought I would share with you some of my favorites. I wish I could say that I obtained all of these in the country they were created. Unfortunately that’s not true. Some were given to me, some I did acquire in country, but many were purchased online. It’s been a fun experience collecting them.

This is my first major nativity I purchased. I purchased it in the airport as I was leaving the Dominican Republic. I had taught there for four years, and I later returned for a summer to teach pastors. The company that makes this is a well known company in the Dominican Republic, and I had intended to go to their factory but never did. When I saw it in the airport, I couldn’t resist even though I knew it probably cost more than it should. I like how the animals are not proportional especially the chickens which are very common all over the country. It has that folk art look.

Let’s stay in Latin America. Much of the folk art styles of nativities come from Latin America with Peru being the most prolific. The country has many styles reflecting the variety of cultures that live there. I have seen nativities reflecting the Amazonian culture as well as that of the ancient Incans. This piece is known as Chulucanas and derives its name from the town where they are made. The potters traditionally create vases in black and white, but their figurines will have other colors. The figurines all have this rounded appearance which I find fun, and this one piece nativity has always been a favorite. The couple seems so happy as Mary holds baby Jesus.

I found this fantastic Peruvian nativity on Ebay. What I love about this set is the colorful costumes. The photo doesn’t quite do justice to the bright colors of the fabric. The Joseph figure is also wearing a traditional hat. Here the culture is saying that the birth of Jesus has significance for Peruvians not just those in Western cultures.

Traveling nearby we come to Bolivia and this cute nativity set. Bolivian nativities tend to add the halo around the heads of the holy family and like to place them in front of traditional homes rather than in stables. My favorite part of this nativity is baby Jesus who is sitting up with his arms outstretched, hardly the image of an infant. The llama in the center also adds to the Bolivian twist on this nativity scene.

After Peru, Mexico is probably the most prolific producer of nativities. Again there are a number of styles. One is the use of tin where artists cut out the figures, paint them, and add a wire to the back to help it stand up. This particular nativity is made from painted pottery rather than glazed. This set is fairly large in size. I like the colorful figures, and the fact that there are three angels visiting the Christ child. The folk art is evident again by the proportions. The donkey and bull on the left are quite small while baby Jesus is quite large, half the size of his mother.

We now turn to Asia where Christianity has historically not been very dominant. The fact that Christmas has arrived even in places where Christianity has a small presence is indicated by this unique nativity. It was created in Nepal where less than two percent of the people are Christians, and in fact a place where Christians have been persecuted. Nevertheless they still create nativity sets out of felt over a cardboard base. I’m not sure if this is yak wool or not, but the yak figure with its tiny brass bell hanging from its neck is one of my favorite parts of this set.

Another Asian country one would not expect to have a nativity set is the highly Muslim country of Indonesia. What is fascinating about this set is that Mary seems to be wearing a head scarf in the traditional Muslim manner. One could argue this is not actually a nativity. However the fact that the man is holding a staff definitely gives it a context that would seem to indicate this is Joseph. The colors on this are unusual, and it has a very serene feel about it to me.

Africa has become an increasingly Christian part of the world so it is no surprise that the creation of nativities there has increased. They have produced some interesting sets. This one is from Ethiopia. The figures are quite small, and the whole set came in its own colorful bag. The rough bake clay contrasts with the green glazed elements of each figure. The huge centerpiece of the baby Jesus figure contrasting with the small hut gives it the folk art feel.

This novel nativity set is from Ghana and shows a lot of character. I found this in a gift shop in California. The artist used beads and bits of cloth and fiber to create the figures. It’s a very modern take on the nativity. The characters are grounded with resin stars. Every time I see this one, I smile. It’s so creative and fun.

When we think of nativities made in Europe, we generally think of Germany and Italy as the two most common producers. This set, however, is from Portugal. I bought it there when we visited a number of years ago. It has a unique form with the angel’s background indicating peace, praise, harmony. The flowers and designs on the figures also create a unique look.

This set is from Italy, but is not the traditional ornate figures we tend to think of when we think Italian nativities. These are made from plastic and have a very simple design. I like them for that very reason. It has a mid-century feel to me which is a style I like and appreciate.

Quite a few years ago we went to New Mexico and after seeing the Native American art there, I had to purchase a nativity set. Unfortunately these can be pretty pricey. This one caught my eye, particularly the expression on Mary’s face. I’m not exactly sure what the expression is suggesting. It seems to be either surprise or great joy. I would hope it would be the latter.

These are just a dozen of my many nativity sets. I wish you could see them all as there are so many unique and original forms and materials being used. If you see a unique nativity set as you travel, it might be worth getting as a souvenir. It will be something that once a year will remind you of that trip.

Do you have a unique nativity set? I’d love to see a picture or a description in the comment section below. Also let me know which of these is your favorite. I’m always curious what others think.

Credit: The Christmas trees in the photos are from the collection of Silvette Lee.