Nativity scenes around the world

Nativity scenes are constructed for celebrating the Christmas season in countries that cultivate Christian religious tradition, especially Catholic. Both at home and public spaces like shoping centers, airports, etcetera, where the birth of Jesus Christ is represented. 

In large cities, this practice within homes is a particularly fun activity for children, who enjoy seeing the representation of rivers, mountains, and work in the countryside, using all types of materials as wood, plastic, fibers, sugar, chocolate, snow, and the list is big. 

It appears that the first Holy Art Nativity set was an outdoor one, St. Francis of Assisi is given the credit for creating the first Nativity scene in 1223, as St. Francis was concerned that the focus of Christmas was not on the birth of Christ (much like we worry about today), and he set out to do as a “keep Christ in Christmas.”

Giant Nativity Scene in Alicante, Spain (2020)

In december 2020 a Nativity scene erected in Alicante, Spain has broken two Guinness World Records for the largest recorded Nativity scene. The work features a 59-foot-tall Joseph, set alongside figures of the Blessed Mother and the newborn Christ. Media reported that the figures, created by artist Jose Manuel Garcia, were set up in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento. The 59-foot Joseph smashes the previous record, which was just over 16 feet tall. Encompassing an area of 602 square feet, the Alicante Nativity is the world’s tallest static Nativity scene ever recorded, as well as the largest by area. A report notes that the Alicante Nativity scene took Garcia more than two months to create. Mary, who was posed in a semi-seated position, rises to about 32 feet high, the figure of the infant Jesus, however, is larger than an average adult, the swaddled statue is described as over 10.5 feet tall.

Napoli, Italy is famous for its crib tradition and it has even a road exclusively with crib shops: Via San Gregorio Armeno. The Nativity tradition is rooted in Catholicism, this tradition in Naples is undoubtedly the world’s most famous and consists of two parts: the mystery and the partition. The mystery contains Mary, Joseph, Jesus, the angels, the ox and the donkey while partition houses a tavern, the proclamation and the market. The nativity scene is a very important part of Neapolitan culture: in fact, not only is Naples’ Via San Gregorio Armeno home to the world’s oldest and most visited workshops of nativity scene artisans, but the Museum of Capodimonte, has an entire area dedicated to the history of the nativity starting with the 16th century. 

During these times more than half a million tourists from all the world visit to see the shops with the original miniature figurines and the the street is especially busy. However, the most shops are open all year round and you can take your time and have a look around after New Year’s. A good period to visit the street is in september-november, when all the handicraftsmen start to prepare their shop for the busy Christmas time. 

This year, Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church in Toledo, Ohio, United States, is hosting over 300 nativity scenes from around the world. The scenes are staged among themed tablespaces and decorated trees. 

According to the Guinness World Records, the record for most Nativity sets displayed belongs to Oasis Church of Pembroke Pines, Florida, which had 2,150 unique sets displayed on Dec. 11, 2010.