Nativity sets are part of the Christmas celebration for many families in the world.
It originated with a Catholic saint, St. Francis of Assisi in 1223 when he felt inspired to recreate the Nativity scene after visiting the Holy Land. St. Francis’s recreation of Christ’s birth became very popular and spread fast throughout the Christian world.
The main characters of the Nativity set are the figurines representing Mary, Joseph and infant Jesus. Although, it is very typical to display near the manger other characters of the Nativity story such as angels, shepherds, animals and many more.
Today people from many cultures enjoy recreating Nativity sets; they represent tradition, heritage and cultural pride. Let’s travel around the world and learn how other cultures set up their Nativity sets. Pay attention to the diverse materials and the cultural flavor that each of them represent.
15 Nativity Sets From Around The World
Ecuador
The gorgeous Nativity set from the picture above comes from the Coastal area of Ecuador. It is made of tagua nut and palm tree. I love the simple carve detail! It is so pretty and classy! My mother-in-law gave me this Nativity set as a Christmas gift. It means so much to me that I have it on display all year-round!
Hawaii
This Nativity set is made with coconut! So beautiful!
Peru
The characters represent the people from Los Andes. Love the llamas! It makes me smile!
Conga
What a gorgeous set! The clean design is very touching to me.
RELATED POST: Christmas in Ecuador
China
Chile
Philippines
Haiti
Uganda
East Germany
Mexico
Russia
Bolivia
Taiwan
Alaska