Mexican Nativity scenes present a unique mixture of elements. In addition to the standard figures of Mary, Joseph, the Wise Men, and baby Jesus, these nativities sometimes include donkeys, sheep, chickens, cows, pigs, and a whole bunch of other animals.
The particular significance of the Nativity stemmed from the fact that it showed Christ as a human, his incarnation being an indispensable part of the economy of salvation in early and medieval Christianity.
And in Mexico, multiple generations of family members meet a month ahead of time to brainstorm before building the scene.
“We open the door so many families can visit. And family unity is encouraged,” Jose Alfredo Tovar, an Ontiveros family representative, told Reuters.
A nativity scene portrays the birth of Jesus Christ and features biblical characters including the Virgin Mary, Joseph, and the Three Kings.
Its depiction is a common tradition during the Christmas season in Mexico and most Latin American countries as well as in Spain.
