Last Updated on January 27, 2021
One of my first Christmases after moving to Washington, D.C., I visited the National Cathedral. An Episcopal church of neo-Gothic design, it’s the second-largest church building in the country and one of the tallest structures in D.C. I was expecting only to tour the beautiful cathedral and see the city from its observation tower. What I didn’t realize is that one of its little-known holiday features is a display of Christmas nativities from around the world!
Seeing the nativity exhibit at the National Cathedral inspired me to start my own collection of world nativities from my travels. In this guide I’ll share photos and stories of where I bought my souvenir nativities. Plus I’ve got tips for starting your own collection, including links to shop on Etsy for gifts for friends and family (or yourself!) this holiday season.
Pin this souvenir nativities guide later for holiday shopping ideas and festive fun!
The Start of My Collection
Although I’m not religious, I love the holiday season. Mulled wine, silver tinsel trees, scary retro Santas: I love every part of Christmas, the shinier and gaudier the better. Which is funny, because my favorite Christmas nativity was the simple white porcelain set my mother had displayed since I was a child.
But seeing the collection at the National Cathedral was different: so many countries of the world, each interpreting the same story through their own culture and native materials. Felted wool, carved wood, corn husks, metal, stone, terracotta and more. Some of the handmade nativity sets were intricate or ornate, and others very simple. The figures usually represented local ethnicities. I pored over the exhibit of world nativities for hours.
I decided then and there that I needed my own collection of Christmas nativity scenes from different countries. So in my travels, I have sought them out in local shops and markets. It’s easier to find them in countries where Christianity is the predominant religion, of course. And it helps if you’re traveling during the holiday season. But that hasn’t stopped me from trying in every country I visit. I was even able to find one in Kyrgyzstan! Made from felted wool, it’s only the Holy Family, with a round wool yurt to store the pieces in. The little dolls are so sweet that it might be my favorite.
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My Nativities From Around the World
Ukraine Nesting Nativity Set
In Ukraine, their traditional matryoshka (nesting dolls) are each painted with a unique design, compared to Russian matryoshkas which are successively smaller dolls. Ukrainian matryoshkas tell a story, with each size showing different scenes or characters, so I was really excited to find one of the Christmas story at a local market. It’s one of my most unique world nativity scenes!
The Holy Family, wise men, shepherds, lamb and dove.
Guatemala Nativity Sets
I was able to find a few world nativities when I visited Guatemala, all made from different materials. The nativity of large carved and painted wooden statues is one of my favorites!
Mexico Nativity Sets
In Mexico I found what I like to call a “portmanteau gift”: one souvenir that combines two things you really really like! I bought two similar Mexican nativity sets – one each for me and my sister – since we both love nativities and Day of the Dead. I also found the cutest church nativity – check it out below!
When I visited Oaxaca, Mexico for Day of the Dead, I found a cool tin nativity scene that folds flat. Which was perfect, because I really had no extra room in my luggage on that trip!
In Mexico City, I checked out local markets to find another nativity to add to my collection. La Ciudadela is an entire market of artisanal handicrafts where I found lots of nativities in shops there (possibly because I visited at the end of November, but it looked like they display them year-round).
I selected one made in a Huichol style, wax figures decorated with meticulously-placed seed beads. The Huichol are an indigenous people who live in the states of Jalisco, Durango, Zacatecas and Nayarit in Mexico. The Huichol have a long history of beading with beads made from clay, shells, corals, and seeds, as well as yarn paintings.
Peru Nativities
In Peru I went a little crazy and bought almost every nativity I saw. Maybe it was euphoria from surviving the Inca Trail hike, maybe it was altitude sickness. I just kept finding cuter ones. How adorbs is the little llama shepherd Holy Family nativity? Peru was definitely my best destination for adding to my collection of nativity sets from different cultures and countries!
Belize Nativities
In Belize, I scoured shops for handmade nativity sets but didn’t find any until I got back to the airport in Belize City. Then I found this cute clay ornament and another tiny nativity with a hidden itsy-bitsy family inside.
Nativities from Colombia
I was lucky to visit Colombia in December last year and saw many nativity sets at souvenir shops! Most of them were the same in all the cities I visited. I ended up choosing two — one from the Salt Cathedral at Zipaquira, and another from a shop at the airport — because they were unique.
Portugal Nativity Sets
Portugal was another country where it was difficult to decide which nativity to choose! I found several I liked, but eventually settled on two. The first is made of cork. If you’ve visited Portugal, you’ll know why I chose this one: cork is one of Portugal’s biggest products! They produce more than 50% of the world’s supply. You can find it in everything from shoes to purses to actual wine corks and many different Portugal souvenirs. This world nativity has a small family made from clay inside a ring of cork.
In Portugal, you can also find many nativity sets made from porcelain and clay as well as other materials. I fell for this little brightly colored one when I saw it in a shop window. I especially like it because all the figures look like they’re singing.
In the city of Evora, Portugal, the city’s museum center at the San Francisco Church (Igreja de São Francisco) also has an exhibit of nearly 500 nativities. It’s the private collection of the Canha da Silva family. Check out my guide to visiting the San Francisco Church including the nativity set museum collection and the Evora Chapel of Bones!
Chapel of Bones Evora, Portugal + San Francisco Church & Nativities
Evora, Portugal is a UNESCO World Heritage site with so much history! Don’t miss the San Francisco Church, home to the Evora Chapel of Bones and a collection of nativity sets from around the world.
Czech Republic Nativity
I was lucky to visit the Czech Republic one year for before Christmas, when their holiday markets were in full swing. Czech is known for its nativities made by master craftsmen, but I had a hard time finding any in souvenir shops! (I found many ornaments though.) I ended up choosing this simple nativity in a large seed pod from one of the markets.
Italy
I cheated a little on this world nativity — it’s actually a gift my mother brought me this year from her first solo trip to Italy. It’s only about two inches high, but I just love the smooth carved olive wood and embracing figures!
Kyrgyzstan
Are you ready for my favorite world nativity? The nativity from Kyrgyzstan is so cute it makes me squeal. Made from felted wool, it’s the three dolls of the Holy Family, with a yurt to store them in. A tag inside listed the artisan’s name as part of a fair trade women’s cooperative. If you like this one best too, keep reading for shopping links to buy a similar one on Etsy!
National Cathedral Exhibit
If you’d like to see the National Cathedral’s exhibit of world nativity sets, it begins each year around the end of November. The exhibit changes each year, as only 80 are on display from the collection of 800. Get more information on their holiday season to plan a visit!
Starting Your Own Collection
If you’d like to start your own collection of nativities from around the world, or if you’re looking to buy them as gifts, I recommend asking sellers in local markets during your travels. Ask at your hotel for help in translating “nativity” if you don’t speak the local language or won’t have a guide. Sometimes market sellers know what other shops have, and are willing to bring it to you. (I assume the other seller gives them a percentage!) Or to jump-start your own collection, consider buying them online from Etsy sellers around the globe
Shop Etsy for World Nativities
For more artisan and one-of-a-kind nativities including vintage and antiques, check out my Etsy list of nativities from around the world.
I’ve even been able to find some international sellers on Amazon that offer nativities from around the world.
Looking for more holiday gift ideas for travelers? Don’t miss my guide to more than 101 unique gifts for travel lovers and my list of all my favorite travel gear!
And if you love world nativity sets, your bucket list should include visiting the Canha da Silva collection in Evora, Portugal – grab my tips for planning a visit here!
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Chapel of Bones Evora, Portugal + San Francisco Church & Nativities
Evora, Portugal is a UNESCO World Heritage site with so much history! Don’t miss the San Francisco Church, home to the Evora Chapel of Bones and a collection of nativity sets from around the world.
Pin my souvenir world nativities for later!
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