Mary, Joseph, the baby Jesus and the three wise men in 2020: nativity scenes from around the world

Handmade clay figures from a traditional Mexican nativity scene can be seen at Castillo’s family store located on Comonfort Street during a visit to a craft workshop on December 20, 2020 in Metepec, Mexico. Asael Castillo runs Castillo’s craft studio, where he and his family produce different clay sets related to the Christmas Nativity Scene each year. (Photo by Alfredo Martinez / Getty Images)

• A nativity scene refers to the display of works of art and artifacts depicting the birth of the Christian martyr Jesus.
• Every year, as the world approaches Christmas, enthusiasts reinterpret the scene to suit the year and its themes.
• From Covid-19 to Black Lives Matter, Arts24 takes a look at 10 of the 2020 nativity scenes.

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Giuseppe Magarelli, one of Molfetta’s oldest artisans, in his Molfetta workshop on December 24, 2020. One of Molfetta’s most historic manger artisans, Giuseppe Magarelli, 68 is a plumber, who has been making handcrafted nativity scenes such as a hobby for 50 years. He is also a member of the Italian Association of Friends of the Nativity. Its largest nativity scene is 2.20 meters long, 2.70 meters high and 1.70 meters deep. He started making nativity scenes with his father 50 years ago and every year, he adds or modifies some parts, also doing all the mechanical movements to the characters.

A nativity scene inside the Church of Saint Teresa of the Discalced Carmelites, in Dublin city center, Wednesday, Dec.23, 2020, in Dublin, Ireland.

A nativity scene with wise men wearing hand sanitizer and face masks outside Broadway Baptist Church in Derby.

A floating nativity scene is found in the waters around Burano on December 21, 2020 in Venice, Italy. The scene is made up of 60 wooden figures, representing figures and animals of the Nativity made and painted by Francesco Orazio, a greengrocer by profession.

Handmade clay figures of a traditional Mexican nativity at the Castillo family store located on Comonfort Street in Metepec, Mexico. Asael Castillo runs Castillo’s craft studio, where he and his family produce different clay sets related to the Nativity Scene each year.

A Christmas play in the southern district of Gloria addresses racism and the protection of the Amazon rainforest. Every year the Church of the Sanctuary of the Sacred Heart of Jesus exhibits a play that addresses contemporary issues. This year, María and José, the parents of Jesus, are portrayed as black in a devastated Amazon region. The angels are illustrated with indigenous figures.

A view of a futuristic nativity scene in St. Peter’s Square during Pope Francis’ Sunday Angelus blessing on December 20, 2020 in Vatican City, Vatican.

Ice sculptor Steve Rose of Boston Ice Effects uses a grinder while working on a life-size nativity scene called “Holy Family” outside of Trinity Church in Copley Square in Boston. The ice sculpture is part of the opening night of the 111-year-old “Candlelight Carols” music and reading program at the church. The piece will be on from Saturday night until January 6, 2021.

A woman uses her phone near a Nativity scene outside the Kazan Cathedral in central St. Petersburg.

Nativity scene of the Vatican Firemen during the inauguration of the exhibition “100 nativity scenes” under Bernini’s colonnade in St. Peter’s Square.