Nativities    
                                   The countries mentioned below, with the exception of Mexico, are the countries of Al & my heritage.                                                      

PANAMA:  "Feliz Navidad" is the same Christmas greeting that is used in most Spanish speaking countries. Sometimes you will hear them say, "Felices Pascuas" though this is more suited as an Easter greeting.

The Holidays start for the Panamanian people on December 8th with the celebration of the Immaculate Conception.  This is also Mother's Day in Panama.  Some of the little girls are dressed as Angels with wings attached to their dresses and there is a parade with the Statue of the Blessed Virgin being carried down the main street.  The children also make their first communion on this day.

During the following weeks the 'nacimientos' are set up.  Many have been in the families for years and were bought in Europe.

The first tree in Panama was brought to the Central Hotel from Europe by the Ehrman family. Not all families display Christmas trees.  

The  day of December 24th, is spent in food preparation and house cleaning. Some traditional Panamanian food is, pavo (turkey) and relleno (stuffing), arroz dulce  and tamales (a cornmeal made into a paste with arturo sauce, meats, capers, prunes, and spices wrapped in plantain leaves and boiled). Fruitcake is a popular dessert item.   The Panamanians listen to music as they await midnight to feast and visit family and friends. After eating, it is common for people to dance and celebrate in the streets.

On Christmas Day, December 25th, most worship at their church in the morning. The rest of the day is spent visiting far-away family and friends and eating the same holiday foods.

Although Christmas is celebrated on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, the other big holiday in Panama is Epiphany - or Dia de los Reyes (Kings Day), when the children get presents.

Christmas music is often traditional and includes songs called "gaitas" or "villancicos". Lots of singing, eating, drinking and fun surrounds Christmas in Panama.  The American influence with the building of the Canal Zone changed the holidays into a mixture of Panamanian and American traditions.  In the Canal Zone the decorating of the exterior of houses with many lights and decorations made the season "brighter

MEXICO:  Again "Feliz Navidad" is the Christmas greeting.

The Spanish missionaries taught some of the first Mexican monks to carve nativity figures. As with most religious customs in this country, traditional folklore has crept into some of the figures. A fascinating Thursday or Sunday excursion during late November and December to the Tonala market, a small rustic village,   will  bring you to dozens of stalls which sell nothing but supplies and accessories for nacimientos. It is located approximately 30 minutes from downtown Guadalajara. 

Nacimientos have traditionally been the main decorations in  homes, businesses and churches. Moss, sawdust, sand, and painted paper, are stretched over stacked bases to create and  resemble hills, deserts, rivers and lakes. Whole nativity scenes can be seen on top of tables or any flat surface.  More characters and scenes are added each year. The  'nacimientos' are set up  around December 14th, and kept on display until February 2.

Look for pure Mexican traditions in the nacimientos, like the rooster who crowed to announce the birth of baby Jesus, and the fish in the river,from the  Mexican carol of the same name,"Los Peces en el Rio".  Some even have Lucifer lurking in his cave trying to lure the shepherds, who are going on a pilgrimage to Bethlehem to see the birth of the Christ child., They also have Egyptians camping in their tents.  These 'nacimientos' are complete villages, with wells, vendors with carts of fruits and vegetables, playing children, musicians, dancers, meats roasting on spits, even women making tortillas. Nacimientos are especially important in Guadalajara, due to the artistic influence of Tlaquepaque, suburb of Guadalajara, where many figures are made and a competition of creches is held each year.

One celebration of Christ's birth is, a 'posada'. Las Posadas are a series of nine  processions which are uniquely, genuinely and exclusively Mexican, seemingly invented by the early Spanish missionaries solely to comfort and convert the former Aztecs.

The tradition of the nine days of processions (Posada  meaning lodging, inn, or boarding house ) began soon after the arrival of the Spaniards in Mexico.  Fr San Ignacio de Loyola created the custom to teach the story of the birth of Jesus and more importantly to coincide with the nine day Fiestas of the Sun, which celebrated the virgin birth of the Aztec Sun god, Huitzilopchtli, from the 16th through the 24th of December. Special permission was received from Rome to celebrate nine "Christmas Masses" to represent the nine months of Mary's pregnancy.

The children in the villages  walk each evening from the church for a pilgrimage to a different neighborhood. This procession symbolizes the journey made by Joseph and Mary from Nazareth to Bethlehem and Joseph's search for shelter (Posada) at an Inn. The peregrinos (travelers) include Joseph leading Mary on a burro, an Angel, shepherds, and kings.  Other excited, happy, shiny-eyed children,follow along  with  shepherds' staffs decorated with bright ribbon and flower which they tap in time to the music.

The traditional Posada songs are exchanged back and forth between Joseph and the group outside each house and the Innkeeper and the group inside. At each location, Joseph asks for entry, until finally at a prearranged location, the Innkeeper and friends sing a welcome from inside the shelter The party begins, with joyous music, the striking of the piñatas,filled  with candy, fruit, and treats for everyone. Like the fiestas held by the ancients to honor Huitzilopochtli, the Mexican Posadas are full of laughter mixed with deep spirituality, combined with the Mexican's thirst for diversion from their daily lives. This is truly a merry religious celebration, and for most of the children, far more anticipated than Christmas itself.

IRELAND: "Nollaig Shona Dhuit" is Merry Christmas in Irish Gaelic. 

To the Irish, Christmas is a time for religious celebration rather than revelry. The manger scene (crib) is in most houses and there are a few Christmas trees. The Irish are particularly fond of placing a candle in the window, often decorated with some greenery, on Christmas Eve. During the English persecutions priests were obliged to go into hiding, and it was the hope of every Irish family to have the refugee come into their home for the celebration of Mass on Christmas Eve. The candle in the window indicated his welcome into their home. When the English authorities requested an explanation of this custom the Irish simply explained that they lit the candles and kept the doors unlocked so that if Mary and Joseph were looking for a place to stay they knew that they would be welcome. This "superstition" was considered harmless by the English, and the Irish were often rewarded by the Real Presence of Christ at Holy Mass.

Today the idea is to help light the way of the Holy Family or any other poor traveler out on such a night. After the evening meal, the table is also set with bread and milk and the door left unlocked as a symbol of hospitality that the family is offering to Mary and Joseph and the little one to come. The only festive note that is struck is in the pudding that caps the meal. Three puddings are made early in December, one each for Christmas, New Year's Day and the Twelfth Night.

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ITALY: "Bono Natale" is the greeting for Merry Christmas in Italy.

The main symbol of the Christmas season is the 'Precipio'. A Precipio is found in every home and consists of a manger, and figures of all of those who were present at Jesus' birth.

The origins of the nativity scene come to us from this country. As early as the 4th century A.D., artists were making portrayals of the birth of Christ. Credit for popularizing the nativity as a focal point of Christmas generally goes to St. Francis of Assisi. In 1223, the Saint recreated the nativity scene in the village of Greccio, near Assisi, using people to act out the parts of the Holy Family, the Three Kings, and shepherds and angels. From the 13th century onwards, artists began carving or painting figures for decorative and devotional use.

Such figures, initially life-size or larger, were gradually reduced in scale to permit them to be displayed in homes. The first known "creche" - as the miniature reproductions of Christ's birth manger came to be known as - is believed to have been commissioned by the Duchess of Amalfi in the 1560's. Over the next few centuries, this practice became widespread. Aristocratic families often vied with each other to see who would come up with the most elaborate creche.

A particular center of creche art was in Naples. Inspired by the interest of the monarchy in the 1730's, nativity sets became a serious artistic undertaking. Facial expressions became more life-like and natural. Clothing and accessories became more sophisticated. Eventually such scenes came to involve dozens of characters and animals.

Italy has remained a center for nativity art ever since. 

GERMANY:  "Froehliche Weinachten" is the greeting in Germany.

Bavaria's: age-old love for the Krippe, or creche (crib), is well known; the large annual Krippenmarkt (nativity scene market) in Munich during Advent attests to this. This city’s Bavarian National Museum has one of the most extraordinary and extensive collections of Krippen in the world. Here again, history credits Italian Jesuit St. Francis of Assisi with assembling the first re-creation of a nativity scene in 1223, and the Jesuits brought this custom north of the Alps. But the talented artisans and woodworkers of southern Bavaria, especially the village of Oberammergau in the Bavarian Alps, are said to have helped the custom propagate throughout the rest of the world.

There is no doubt that the Christmas tree came from Germany.  The legend of Martin Luther having the first Christmas tree in the 16th century is not true!  Instead the first fir tree (tannenbaum) was originated from the Winter Solstice celebration of German pagan tribes.  It was well established by Martin Luther's time.  The lights didn't come into being until the end of the 17th century, although Minstrel Wolfram von Eschenbach sang of trees studded with candles back in the 13th century. 

FRANCE: "Joyeux Noel" is Merry Christmas in France.

Nearly every French home at Christmas time displays a Nativity scene or crèche, which serves as the focus for the Christmas celebration.   In these scenes, clay figures called santons, which were created in Provencal during the French Revolution to replace the crèches of the churches, which were closed during this period, portray the story of Jesus' birth. . "Santon" comes from the Provencal word "santoun" meaning little saint. Some people put additional santons in their Nativity scenes every year. They buy these figures at special holiday fairs that are held before Christmas.

Children put their shoes in front of the fireplace so Pere Noel (Father Christmas) can fill them with gifts. Many families attend midnight Mass and then have a festive supper called Le Reveillon.

The Christmas tree has never been particularly popular in France, and though the use of the Yule log or "ceppo" has faded, the French make a traditional Yule log-shaped cake called the bûche de Noël, which means "Christmas Log." The cake, among other great food is served during the Christmas eve supper (le réveillon) held after midnight mass on Christmas Eve. The menu for the meal varies according to regional culinary tradition. In Alsace, goose is the main course, in Burgundy it is turkey with chestnuts, and the Parisians feast upon oysters and foie. 

SPAIN:  "Feliz Navidad" is Merry Christmas in Spain.

The country's patron saint is the Virgin Mary and the Christmas season officially begins December 8, the feast of the Immaculate Conception.  In Granada and Jaen there is one tradition, not at all common elsewhere called Hogueras (bonfires).  This custom began prior to the arrival of Christianity and is the observance of the Winter Solstice (the shortest day of the year). Wood fires are built and people jump over them in the belief that they will be protected against illness.

The main tradition of the Spanish Christmas is the elaborate nacimiento (nativity scene), sometimes called a belén (Bethlehem) or presipio. Christmas Eve is known as Noche Buena or "the Good Night." It is a time for family members to gather together to rejoice and feast around the Nativity scenes that are present in nearly every home.

Church bells ring out Christmas Eve calling everyone to Misa de Gallo (Mass of the Rooster). The most beautiful of these candlelight services is held at the monastery of Montserrat, high in the mountain near Barcelona, which is highlighted by a boy's choir describes as performing the Mass in "one pure voice."

After Mass, people return to their homes for a feast. In some areas it often features a main course of "Pavo Trufado de Navidad" or turkey stuffed with truffles, but along the coast you may find cod or red snapper. Following the meal, families usually gather around the Chrismas tree to sing Spain's famous carols, called villancios or goigs. The celebration continues until dawn as expressed in an old Spanish proverb: "Esta noche es Noche-Buena, Y no es noche de dormir". ( This is the Good Night, and  is not a night meant for sleep. )

Christmas Day sees more festive eating, either of leftovers from the previous night's meal or another family feast. Some attend another church service.

One custom peculiar to Spain is that of "swinging." Swings are set up throughout the courtyards and young people swing to the accompaniment of songs and laughter.

Some families have adopted the American Santa Claus,or Papa Noel as he is known locally, as the gift-bringer on Christmas Eve, but most continue to wait until January 6th for the traditional visit of the Three Kings.

On the Eve of Epiphany, January 5th, children fill their shoes with grass or grain for the kings' camels and place them on the doorstep. During the night, the Three Kings, leave gifts in and around the shoes. January 6th, Epiphany, is heralded with parades in various cities where sweets are distributed to thousands of children lining the streets.

turkey is the main dish and presents are fo                                      und

UNITED STATES;   "Merry Christmas" is the greeting in the US.

Here in the U.S. we have inherited customs, traditions, and legends that are actually from many diverse cultures . Our traditions were brought to our shores by the immigrants of all the different lands that populated this country.

Our carols come from England and Australia .   Our tree ideas come from Germany. Santa Claus, or St. Nick. in a red suit originated in Scandinavia.   His arrival through the chimney to fill stockings is reminiscent of the Netherlands. His sleigh drawn by reindeer began in Switzerland, and our parades may be a carry-over from Latin processions. . We, in turn, have fattened up the jolly old man in the red suit and blended all the traditions until he comes down the chimney on Christmas Eve, leaves gifts and stockings filled with treats and departs in a sleigh drawn by eight tiny reindeer.

In mid 1500's Christmas was celebrated in Spanish style by the first settlers to America. The early 1700's had the Puritans who did not celebrate Christmas. Then in the late 1700's, the Colonists decorated their fireplaces with greenery, sung carols, and feasted. Christmas was once again a happy holiday.  No one, however, had a Christmas tree. In 1823 Clement Moore wrote the poem "A Visit From St. Nicholas."  Saint Nicholas or Santa Claus  began to play a big part in the celebration of Christmas.
In the 1840's German immigrants introduced the Christmas tree. This decoration became a major part of the Christmas tradition. And in the 1890's, Victorians decorated their trees and homes with lots of lace, flowers, and glass ornaments and sending Christmas cards became popular.

Of course the traditional feasting is typical of all nations. Our feast are typical of our different cultures.  Christmas Eve is celebrated in some families by going to Midnight Mass.  Some families take this opportunity to visit friends.  Some families decorate  their Christmas trees on this night.  Some place Baby Jesus in his manger.

Christmas day is when gifts are found under a Christmas tree. Families gather together and the gifts come from Santa Claus.

Most Christians celebrate Epiphany on January 6, the 12th day after Christmas. Roman Catholics in the United States observe the festival on any Sunday from January 2 through January 8. The Epiphany is an especially religious day for the Greek people in Tarpon Spring, Florida where their young men have braved the chilly January waters of Spring Bayou since 1920 in hopes of capturing the coveted Epiphany cross.  Some people keep the old tradition of gift giving and exchange  a small present with their loved ones on this day.

Many families have their nativity figures from the old country. They have passed this tradition of setting up at Nativity to their children.  The Nativity or Nativity  scene is becoming more popular
in the US today. 

(Father Noel) is the gift-bringer in Brazilr and the gifts come from Santa Claus. turkey is the ainishnd presents are found under a Christmas tree. Families gather together and the gifts come from S

Brazil: "Boas Festas" is Merry Christmas in Brazil or " Feliz Natal" a Portuguese greeting dating back to Brazil as a former Portuguese Colony.

Nativity scenes, called "presépios" or "pesebre" (manger scene), are  very important in Brazil,  as  part of holiday decorations. The word originates from the Hebrew word "presepium" which means the bed of straw upon which Jesus first slept in Bethlehem.  The Presépio was introduced in the 17th century, in the city of Olinda in the state of Pernambuco by a Franciscan friar named Gaspar de Santo Agostinho.

Many of the Christmas celebrations in Brazil contain the mixing of other cultural foods with theirs. Huge Christmas dinners or "cena" , unusual in the hot summertime, includes turkey, ham, colored rice, and wonderful vegetable and fruit dishes. One special Christmas dish is Pudim De Leite, a Brazilian style flan (egg custard). At midnight everyone eats but the children are served first so they can get to bed and Papai Noel (Father Noel) who is the gift-bringer in Brazil can bring them gifts in the morning. According to legend, he lives in Greenland.  On Christmas morning families will exchange their gifts.

Devout Catholics often attend Midnight Mass or Missa do Galo on December 24th or on December 25th, go to the masses in late afternoon, because people enjoy sleeping late after the dinner (Ceia de Natal)

El Salvador:   Again, "Felice Navidad" is Merry Christmas in this Latin Country, whose name means "the Savior" in Spanish.

This is a Pacific coast country in Central America. It is the smallest country in Central America and the most densley populated. Salvadorans, like most if not all Latin Americans, value family and put it first during Christmas celebrations. Family gatherings begin at about 7:00 pm (on Christmas Eve), when members , mostly grandparents, start arriving at a determined home. Fireworks, which vary from so-called "estrellitas" or glimmer sticks for children, to huge, noisy firecrackers are used. These last ones are used around midnight.

Christmas may very well be the one time of the year when the whole family is together and "catching up" is in order. Friends drop in to spread good wishes and are invited to stay over for dinner, even though most are doing their "traditional route" through friends' homes before arriving to their own family's celebration.

Dinner time may vary. In some cases, families gather around the table at about 11:00 pm. In others, the meals are served at about 1:00 am. The difference in times is related to the Christmas Mass which begins at midnight.

Dinner menus vary. Upper and upper middle class families may enjoy a more "Americanized" menu of turkey and ham, while traditional middle class and lower strata families may have chicken or even special homemade tamales. Fruit juices are commonly served to kids and of course the typical Horchata (mix of pulverized milk, cocoa beans and pumpkin seeds).

Just before saying goodbye to the family, (after midnight) the tradition is to place the Baby Jesus figure as part of the Nacimiento Scene under the Christmas Tree. The figure is not placed before this time, even though the nativity may have been set up for days, signyifying that Jesus is born. The Nativity Scene is very important to the families.

Celebrating is far from over. This is the time dedicated to friends who gather to continue the party. People go to private parties or to clubs, drive to a nearby beach to see daybreak, or simply visit neighbors. 

This was the first year Al & I had more than just the stable and the Holy Family.
Later I was to find out my original figures (The Holy Family and Three Wisemen)
were not Fontanini Figures which I collect.

Nativity 2002

Whole View of Nativity

More Pictures to come!!!

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