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Abstract

Abstract From the Spanish word nacer, nacimiento is the name for a Christmas nativity scene. In the Southwest the creation of nacimientos has been a tradition since the seventeenth century. A nacimiento may resemble a religious altar in that it is an assemblage of many articles and objects, all depicting the recent birth of Jesus Christ in the manger, but a nacimiento can also include other Christmasrelated images, biblical scenes, and possibly artifacts relating to the life experiences of the creator. The set of the nacimiento can vary in size from a small table to half a room, or to the whole front yard of a home. Outdoor nacimientos will have life-size figures of Mary and Joseph and various other biblical characters and animals. This custom is not particular to the Chicano community, and nativity scenes can be found throughout the country during the Christmas season. It is thought that Saint Francis of Assisi is the saint responsible for much of the veneration of the infant Jesus, and the custom of creating nativity scenes or monuments to the birth of Christ has been going on for hundreds of years.