Nativity Set

Once again, here are some pictures of the nativity set in the Centro of Querétaro. I LOVE looking at this – every time I pass through the Centro during Christmas time, I look at it!

Here’s the angel announcing to Mary that she will become pregnant and give birth to the Savior.

Here’s an interesting Mexican version of this… They say that the angels that appeared to the shepherds to announce Jesus’ birth also appeared to guys in charge of watering animals. Here are the guys with their water jugs (it’s interesting to me that all the figures in the nativity set except angels, Mary, and Joseph look like Mexicans! But I know we do that too – the people in the nativity weren’t white either!)

Here’s the traditional nativity scene – sorry it was REALLY sunny out, so the light turned out weird.

And another latinamerican take on the nativity – the three wise men. They have names – Melchor, Balchazar, and Gaspar. One comes on a horse, another on a camel, and another on an elephant. They come from India, China, and Africa. (I probably didn’t get all these facts 100% correct, I’m doing it from memory of what people have told me).

Here’s the actual Mexican Christmas scene – families participating in a traditional posada. At a posada, people sing a song remembering the journey that Mary and Joseph made to Bethlehem. I think the song also talks about the shepherds and the wise men. Then there’s a candle-lighting, and a piñata for the kids. Yummy food is served (in QRO it’s generally small sandwiches of shredded chicken in mole – my mouth waters just thinking about it!!)

Here's the creation scene:

And the hell scene: