Description
In the hill village of Alcalá, the Belen came out on the eighth of December, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, and not a day before. Abuelo carried the box down from the loft; Abuela unwrapped the figures one by one from their yellowed newspaper. The children were allowed to place the shepherds, the sheep, the little bridge over the painted river. The manger with its red roof was always set beneath the window. And the star, by long tradition, was saved for the very last.
This box depicts a red-roofed manger Nativity, known in Spanish-speaking homes as a Belen. It is a meaningful gift for a family that keeps the Nativity tradition, a godparent marking a child’s first Christmas, or anyone whose faith is at the heart of the season. Place it among the figures of a larger crèche, or on its own on a side table near the window. It brings a sense of reverence and continuity to any home where the Nativity is set out each year.
At a glance
- A Nativity manger with a red roof, also called a Belen
- Decorated by French artisans on Limoges porcelain
- Hinged lid opening to a small interior
- A reverent Christmas subject for families of faith
- Meaningful for godparents and Spanish-speaking households
A treasured gift for whoever in the family has the honour of placing the star.
