handmade gifts

This colorful box depicts the first Christmas. Alejandro Chávez crafts a traditional retablo (diorama) in the regional style of Ayacucho. The Holy Family and the three kings are modeled of clay and painted by hand. Beneath them, villagers harvest the red fruit of the prickly pear cactus.

This sweet nativity scene is the original creation of Zoila Davila in Peru. Working in ceramic, she carefully crafts and paints the figures of Joseph, the three kings bearing gifts and Mary, holding the baby Jesus. Their piously downcast eyes add a special reverence to the five-piece set.

Led to Bethlehem by a star in the east, the Three Kings bring precious gifts to the Christ Child. Mary and Joseph stand on either side as a cow and donkey kneel beside the manger. This colorful box depicts the Epiphany from the Christmas story in the Gospel of Matthew. Alejandro Chávez crafts a traditional Ayacucho-style retablo, a diorama housed in a colorful wood box. The images are modeled of ceramic and painted by hand, and the box closes with a leather latch.

El Salvador's Marcela Moran creates this charming and natural nativity sculpture celebrating love and tranquility in Bethlehem. Atop a round base of cortez wood, Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus are crafted from jute, dried gourd and agave fibers. The holy trio is clothed with 100% cotton attire hand-woven in a traditional loom.

"This nativity line was created as a way of reevaluating an underestimated and little valued natural fiber which has great potential. It can be used for many things and we transform it into decorative pieces with multicolored touches from the handmade fabric that complements it," Moran says.

Molded and painted by hand, these three petite figurines from Jose Arriola in Guatemala form a charming nativity scene. "I am a person with fervent faith," says the artisan. "Making these nativities fills me with great joy, and I am inspired by the typical costumes of my country, so that whoever has them in their home can see how beautiful they are."