Mexican Nativity Scenes
Posted: December 6, 2013 Filed under: Christmas, Mexican Folk Art, Mexican Holidays, Navidad, Religious Folk Art | Tags: Christmas, Mexican folk art, Nacimiento, Nativity Set, Navidad, Oaxaca, Wood Carvings Comments Off on Mexican Nativity ScenesDo you know someone who collects Nativities? Or someone who collects Nativities from all over the world? If you have someone on your list who loves Nativities, we’ve got you covered. Here are just a few of the many we have in our shop in Minneapolis, Minnesota. If you’d like to purchase one of these nacimientos, click on the photo to purchase through the Zinnia Folk Arts Online Shop.
Mexican Nativity Scenes or “Nacimientos” come in all sizes and in all media. The also come in various numerical configurations–five to twenty-five!
This is a very sweet and very tiny nacimiento made in Puebla, Mexico. There are 20 super tiny pieces (tallest is slightly over 1″) including the lovely Christmas cactus and lots of animals. The whole amazingly detailed set (and its “gold” tray) can be yours for $28.
This small nacimiento or nativity has 14 pieces and the tallest piece is about 2″ tall. It is made of clay and the little animals are all lying down. Jesus has his little hands waving in the air. Every piece is decorated in red. $42. Handmade in Mexico.
This is a charming nativity set carved and painted by the Santiago family in La Union, Oaxaca. The tallest piece (the angel) measures about 5.25″ tall. The carving is elegantly simple and the painting, bright and colorful. There are 10 pieces. Very unique and a lovely piece of Mexican folk art.
This is a stunning, large, wooden carved and painted 11 piece nativity set by Roberta Angeles, sister of Jacobo Angeles. They live in San Martin Tilcajete, Oaxaca. The pieces range in size from about 6″ to 9″. Each piece is painted in great detail. And the carving is exquisite. A beautiful set.
Do you have any questions? Or are you looking for another type of nacimiento? Send us an email with your questions!
Frida Kahlo Christmas Ornament
Posted: November 24, 2013 Filed under: Christmas, Frida Kahlo, Navidad | Tags: Christmas, Frida Kahlo, Gifts, Navidad Comments Off on Frida Kahlo Christmas OrnamentThis is a beautiful glass ornament depicting Mexico’s most famous artist, Frida Kahlo. Yes, she has likely exceeded the popularity of Diego Rivera, Siquieros and many other men of her time. The ornament was hand-blown and hand-painted in Krakow, Poland. It measures about 9″ tall and adds a little vida to any Christmas tree. Click on the photo or available here.
Mexican Folk Art Christmas Tree Decorations
Posted: November 20, 2013 Filed under: Christmas, Folk Art, Mexican Crafts, Mexican Folk Art, Mexican Holidays, Navidad, Oaxaca, Tin | Tags: Celebrate the holidays, Christmas, handmade, Mexican crafts, Mexican folk art, Navidad, Tin, Wood Carvings Comments Off on Mexican Folk Art Christmas Tree DecorationsIt’s early, I know, but people are already buying Christmas tree ornaments in the Minneapolis shop! We have some very unique decorations and some of them are online. They are all handmade. That means they were not made by the millions by a machine. No, they were actually designed and made by hand, painted by hand and have all of the charm of bigger pieces of Mexican folk art but in a smaller size. And they come from different cities and artisans all over Mexico. Click on the photo to take you to the online shop!
Wood carved animalitos from La Union, Oaxaca.
Cute lacquered airplanes and pilots as a Mexican Christmas ornament handmade in Guerrero.
The star-shaped pinata shows up everywhere in Mexico during the Christmas season. These small straw pinatas decorated with yarn are pretty individually or linked together in a chain.
Festive and colorful woven palm leaf Christmas ornaments. These come in a cluster of 12 and can be separated or left together.
Beautiful tin musicians from Oaxaca, Mexico. These are 9″ tall and beautifully made. Unique.
Have a question? Send us an email…
Nativity Scenes from Mexico
Posted: December 4, 2012 Filed under: Christmas, Mexican Crafts, Mexican Folk Art, Mexican Holidays, Navidad, Religious Folk Art, Zinnia Folk Arts Shop | Tags: Celebrate the holidays, Christmas, handmade, Mexican art, Mexican Christmas, Mexican Christmas ornaments, Mexican crafts, Mexican folk art, Mexican holidays, mexican style, Navidad, Ornaments, Religious folk art 2 CommentsAs I’ve mentioned before, Mexico is predominantly a Catholic country (over 90%). So, much of the handmade folk art from every region is related to either the Virgin of Guadalupe, believing in miracles, wishing and hoping for protection from the bad, thanking God for the good, remembering the dead or expressing one’s faith. As we get closer to Christmas, the Christmas markets will start popping up allowing one to buy all kinds of decorations and food related to Christmas.
People buy complete nativity scenes in Mexico but there is also a tradition that happens in other parts of the world–buying the nativity scene one piece at a time. If you go to the Christmas markets you’ll see Baby Jesus in all kinds of sizes and colors as well as the lambs, cows, mangers and other nativity figures. You can purchase one or all or simply add on to your nativity scene every year. Jesus is also purchased separately because he doesn’t appear in the scene until December 24th…the Three Kings are added to the nativity on January 6th.
As always, if you have questions or would like to purchase any of these Mexican nacimientos, just let me know!
A Shiny and Glittery Mexican Folk Art Christmas
Posted: December 3, 2012 Filed under: Christmas, Folk Art, Mexican Crafts, Mexican Folk Art, Mexican Holidays, Mexican Style, Navidad, Religious Folk Art | Tags: Celebrate the holidays, Christmas, handmade, Mexican crafts, Mexican folk art, Mexican holidays, Navidad, Virgin of Guadalupe Comments Off on A Shiny and Glittery Mexican Folk Art Christmas 
Here are a few examples of Mexican folk art in the shop for the Navidad season. There are lots of unique pieces–teeny little glittered Virgin of Guadelupe ($12) the beautiful large, Oaxacan, painted wall ornaments ($45), unpainted tin lumenaria in two sizes ($15 and $20), lovely tin pop-up nativity scenes inside a narrow box ($36), tiny little nacimiento boxes from Puebla ($18) and an amazing clay advent wreath from Izucar de Matamoros ($145).
None of these things are on the website but any of them can be purchased. Just let me know if you would like something. We ship all over the world!
Merry Christmas & See you Next Year!
Posted: December 25, 2011 Filed under: Christmas, Paper Mache | Tags: Christmas, paper folk art, paper mache, sacred hearts 2 Comments
Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year to all of you!
I’m taking a break to spend time with my family and won’t be posting until the new year.
Enjoy the season and I hope you can take a little break too!
See you next year…
A Shiny, Tin Feliz Navidad
Posted: December 21, 2011 Filed under: Christmas, Mexican Folk Art, Navidad, Tin | Tags: Christmas, luminaria, Mexican folk art, mexican style, Tin Comments Off on A Shiny, Tin Feliz Navidad
Tin artisans can be found in several regions of Mexico, working in different styles and different types of objects. This beautiful painted tin wall hanging comes from Oaxaca as do the common painted tin ornaments that add so much color and shine to the Christmas tree!
This lovely luminaria also comes from Oaxaca.
Have a shiny Christmas!
Nativity Scenes or “Nacimientos” from Mexico and Peru
Posted: December 19, 2011 Filed under: Christmas, Mexican Holidays, Navidad | Tags: Christmas, Creche, Day of the Dead, Folk Art, Mexican folk art, Mexican holidays, Nacimiento, Nativities, Navidad, Religious folk art Comments Off on Nativity Scenes or “Nacimientos” from Mexico and Peru
Nativity scenes range in price from $25 to $125. Stop by GUILD to see these and more in all of their glory!
Unique Gifts? We’ve got them! Where? Zinnia Folk Arts at GUILD
Posted: December 16, 2011 Filed under: Christmas, Jewelry, Mexican Earrings, Mexican Holidays, Mexican Jewelry, Milagros, Navidad, Religious Folk Art, Santos | Tags: Christmas, GUILD Collective, handmade, Josefina Aguilar, Mexican ceramics, Mexican dishes, Mexican folk art, Mexican holidays, Mexican jewelry, Mexican silver, Navidad, Ornaments, Religious folk art, Textiles, Wood Carvings Comments Off on Unique Gifts? We’ve got them! Where? Zinnia Folk Arts at GUILD
Zinnia Folk Arts at GUILD
4414 Excelsior Blvd
St. Louis Park, MN
Friday & Saturday, Dec 16, 17: 10-6
Sunday, Dec 18: 12-5
Monday-Friday, Dec 19-23: 10-6 (Yes, we’re open on Monday next week)
Saturday, Dec 24: 10-3
CLOSED on Christmas & Monday, Dec 26
Tuesday, Dec 27: 10-6
Select Online orders by Saturday, Dec 17 to assure Christmas delivery
Pinatas and Christmas in Mexico
Posted: December 8, 2011 Filed under: Christmas, Navidad | Tags: Christmas, handmade, Mexican folk art, Navidad, paper mache, Pinatas Comments Off on Pinatas and Christmas in Mexico
Right now in Mexico you will be able to find markets filled with all of the items one needs to celebrate la Navidad in Mexico. Starting next week (December 12) with the Virgin of Guadelupe’s birthday, then to Dec 16 for the start of the posadas all the way to January 6, Three Kings Day, there are special foods, special activities and special decorations.
Christmas pinatas are handmade and colorful and quite large. I don’t have any at the shop but above are some mini versions that are more the size of large Christmas tree ornaments. The idea is that after the posada (people dressed as the holy family and their entourage go from door to door looking for a place to stay the night) and when they arrive at the last house, there is a big party and the pinata game is played by the kids (and sometimes the adults). Pinatas are filled with candy and games and a big stick is used to whack at the paper mache pinata.
I’ve been looking for a good Youtube video about the making of pinatas but haven’t found one yet–if you do, let me know!
Unfortunately, the pinatas that are available around Minneapolis are imported from CHINA and have SpongeBob and My Little Pony plates on them. I took one of those and ripped off the tacky decorations and covered it with flowers and ribbons–you could do that too!
Zinnia Folk Arts 