In Mexico, the word nacimiento, which means “nativity,” has been expanded to cover the hundreds of little painted clay statues that flesh out a Mexican nativity scene.  There are Egyptians, camels, tents, volcanoes, various devils hiding in the background, butchers, bakers, campfires complete with roasting meat, children in trees, women vending bread, making bread, carrying water, fishermen complete with nets and too many other characters to list.  Here are a few photos of my nacimiento scenes from former years.  This year the figures will remain safe in their boxes on high shelves, safe from the paws of inquisitive cats. (To see the photos in detail, click on first photo to enlarge all.)

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

These photos perhaps represent the prompt of “jolly” better than my post about how I’m celebrating Christmas this year.