Traditional Mexican Nativity: Local Legacy

                   Tara A. Spears   

One of the most celebrated holidays in Mexico is Christmas since it is the time when extended families get together. But unlike NOTB, this celebration is layered with special traditions such as posadas, piñatas, nativities and specific, symbolic foods enjoyed at various times before and after the 25 December.

Nativity scenes were introduced to Mexico in the early colonial period when the first Mexican monks taught the Indigenous people to carve the figures. The basic setup is similar to those in other parts of the world, with a focus on the Holy Family, surrounded by angels, shepherds, and animals. Today, the Mexican tradition of setting up a nativity scene retains its religious and spiritual significance. Each year on December 8th, nacimientos are set up in homes throughout the country.

As with many other art forms in Mexico, nativity scenes demonstrate the diversity and richness of is cultural ancestry. This representation of Mary’s search for refuge is celebrated all over Mexico with candle-lit processions and carols. There are even traditional songs even acts out the Nativity scene where Mary and Joseph beg for shelter and aren’t let in until the one innkeeper takes pity on them.

According to Mexic-Arte Musuem, a traditional home pastorelas navideñas/ nativity staging should contain specific elements. The wooden house is where the nativity is placed and should be simple because it represents the humility and simplicity of the place where the baby Jesus was born. Another important element is the trough (the wooden container for animal feed.) According to history, a manger was a makeshift cradle for the baby Jesus. Like the wooden house, it should demonstrate humility and simplicity. Baby Jesus is the central of the Christmas nativity. Besides representing love, it means light in darkness, peace, and tranquility. As a tradition, the family members should sing to the baby Jesus during the last minutes of December 24 before placing him in the manger.   

Of course, the Virgin Mary in the manger represents understanding, goodness, faithfulness, and love for God.  Tradition indicates that Joseph represents strength and obedience.  The Wise men, angels, and a star are included but typically they will be dark skinned. Shepherds and various farm animals join the display. One unique feature of a Mexican nativity is the inclusion of a Devil because the devil is the one who wanted to distract the shepherds so that they would not arrive for the birth of Baby Jesus. The devil is a symbol of the seven deadly sins.

Although La Penita resident, Inez Plascencia Hernandez has passed away, she had amassed    over 50 years a spectacular Nativity home display that is a wonderful tribute to rural Mexico. Her complex nativity/pesebren de navidad is one of the most beautiful staging I have ever seen.

What makes Inez’s Nativity so unique and special is that it includes the simple, working people going about their tasks in the country:  shepherds with the goats, sheep, burros, cows, pigs; fishermen with nets and woven reed baskets; gathering corn and loading it on the burro; slaughtering beef and pigs; harvest workers filling sacks with crops; women making tortillas; kids playing in trees.  Two hours is not enough time to notice all the minute details in the figures. There is a church in the pueblo, women washing clothes in a river and so many animals!  I loved all of the arrangements that surely are memories of her experiences.

The background is a series of hand painted cloth scenes. Another interesting characteristic of her Nativity is the multi-textural elements. It is not just painted clay, there is fabric, sand, reeds and grasses that make it so real. The palms and cactus trees are beautiful! Inez made several of the shelters herself as she acquired various figures.  The majority of the figures are not European but ‘pretty brown’ people. The placement of the figures is like being with the workers. Such details- like the sombreros-lends authenticity to the vignettes.       

Anyone fortunate enough to view this unique Nativity scene can feel the passion and love that Senora Inez has infused into it. What a wonderful tradition for the family! While Inez would wave away being called an artist, there is so much talent that goes into the composition of the overall scene, that it is true folk-art worthy of being in a museum. It is a beautiful legacy to her family.

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