Nativities Around the World: South America
Ecuador
Ecuador- 2006
Carved out of wood and lightly painted, these figures depict the traditional clothing worn by mestizos, the largest ethnic group in Ecuador. Mestizos are the descendants of the indigenous Indian population and European (mostly Spanish) colonists. Mary wears a traditional shawl while Joseph wears a poncho and a Paja Toquilla (Panama hat).
Purchased from Ten Thousand Villages in 2006.
Peru- 1987
Cristobal Mamani created each piece by rolling or forming the clay by hand. Figurines are highly stylized from the camel’s expressions, the wise men’s teeth, and Mary’s feet poking out in the back of her dress. Mamani learned the craft from his grandparents and passed it on to his wife and seven children. They live in Huancayo, Peru.
Purchased in Taos, NM.
El Cafe - Columbia
Artist Maria Helena Giraldoe fashioned Mary, Joseph, and Jesus to resemble the Colombia Arabica coffee bean. In Colombia, beans are washed (called wet processing) which involves removing the fruit from around the individual coffee seeds before the beans are dried. The result is the clean, bright, and slightly fruity taste of Colombian coffee.
Purchased at Creche Festival in Bellingham, Washington in 1997.
Peru- 2004
Artists from the village of Chulucanas, located in northern Peru, create beautiful polished pottery by firing the clay pottery in smoldering mango leaves. The pottery is then smeared with wax or bitumen to create the soft and satiny finish. The rotund shape of this nativity echoes the large spherical fruit of the calabash tree.
In 2012, artist Percy Purizaca Antón, President of the Association of Potters of Chulucanas, was imprisoned for firing ceramics in an oven located in his home breaking Environment Pollution laws. After local outrage, he was released in 2013. Following this incident, a community park was created for artisans.
Purchased from Ten Thousand Villages in 2004.
Chile - 2003
Artist Jorge Monares created this nativity scene using recycled copper. He and his wife create nativity scenes using the traditional forging technique, which means they use only fire and a hammer.
Purchased from Hands Around the World in 2003.
Peru- 2006
The nativity set was inspired by people who live in the Colca Canyon in southern Peru. The canyon is twice as deep as the Grand Canyon. Along the canyon’s river are remote traditional villages populated by pre-Inca rooted inhabitants. The figurines depict their elaborate and beautiful hand-embroidered clothing and showcase their agricultural produce of potatoes and corn.
Purchased from Ten Thousand Villages in 2006.
Columbia- 1990
This miniature clay nativity reflects Colombian life. The scene incorporates charming llamas and the gift for baby Jesus is a basket full of local produce of pineapple, corn, and tomatoes.
Purchased from San Jose, Costa Rica in 1990.
Paraguay
*donated by Colin Kaemingk in 2023.