Traditional Mexican Nativity: The True Meaning of Christmas
Tara A. Spears
Displaying a manger is a tradition in Mexican homes. The pesebren de navidad is a small representation of the birth of Jesus which is one of the most beautiful traditions of Christmas. Local La Penita resident, Inez Plascencia Hernandez, has amassed a spectacular Nativity home display that is a wonderful tribute to rural Mexican living.
This 86 year old mother of ten children and 21 grand and great-grandchildren still gets excited about putting up her Nativity. Inez has been collecting the hand-made figures for more than 50 years! It is truly stunning slice of Mexican culture that portrays the rural working people as those that hear the annunciation of the Christ Child. The photos do not do justice to the detailed vignettes. Sra. Inez has hundreds of figures that she lovingly arranges each December: “It takes eight days to put it all together.”
The Nativity or Nativity scene is something very typical in Mexican homes during the month of December and January. The Nativity is a representation of the birth of Jesus consisting of ceramic, metal or wooden figures representing the Holy Family inside a manger or animal shelter. Scenes with shepherds and biblical characters such as the Magi are also recreated.
Some historians point out that while St. Francis of Assissi is credited with making the initial Christmas scene in 1223, the first replica of the Christ child birth with clay figures was made in Naples, Italy, in the late fifteenth century. This was the beginning of a worldwide practice that continues today.
A deep-rooted Mexican tradition during the holidays is the staging of the Pastorelas. This display evokes the annunciation of the birth of the Child God to the shepherds. Traditionally, the characters embody the struggle between good and evil, but the works vary depending on the context and region of the country
Inez saw her first Nativity scene on a trip to Tepic when she was a young woman. She was so impressed and inspired by this manger she decided to put one in her home. Inez wanted to teach her kids that “God brings all gifts in life.”
Inez explained that a Nativity must include the Virgin Mary, Saint Joseph, the Christ baby, animals and shepherds and should also have the wise men. What makes Inez’s Nativity for 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 animals! I loved all of the arrangements that surely are memories of her experiences. Inez said that while she doesn’t have a favorite, she likes the animals best.
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.
