Menu
In the News

Photo gallery: International Nativity display at the Washington D.C. Temple includes 87 crèches from 64 countries

See photos of Nativities from around the world on display at the Washington D.C. Temple Visitors’ Center

merlin_2954761.jpg

Ambassador Nguyen Quoc Dzung and his wife, Madame Tran Thi Bich Van, look at the Festival of Lights nativity display inside the Washington D.C. Temple Visitors’ Center in Kensington, Maryland, Nov. 29, 2022

Brian Nicholson, for the Deseret News


Photo gallery: International Nativity display at the Washington D.C. Temple includes 87 crèches from 64 countries

See photos of Nativities from around the world on display at the Washington D.C. Temple Visitors’ Center

merlin_2954761.jpg

Ambassador Nguyen Quoc Dzung and his wife, Madame Tran Thi Bich Van, look at the Festival of Lights nativity display inside the Washington D.C. Temple Visitors’ Center in Kensington, Maryland, Nov. 29, 2022

Brian Nicholson, for the Deseret News

The annual Festival of Lights Nativity display inside the Washington D.C. Temple Visitors’ Center includes 87 crèches from 64 countries, according to DCTemple.org.

The French word crèche describes a distinctive Nativity scene displayed during the Christmas season. These scenes, depicting the birth of Jesus Christ, became popular in the Christian world beginning in the 13th century.

The Nativity scenes in the visitors’ center, along with the international dolls placed on Christmas trees next to the Christus statue in the center’s lobby, are intended to showcase how different cultures depict the sacred historical moment.

“It’s very seldom that we can feel we are part of the celebrating here,” said Mariana Million, a Costa Rican working in international relations in D.C. “To see a doll from our country on one of the trees and a Nativity scene from our country makes us feel like we can participate. Featuring so many cultures was very nice.”

See photos from ten countries below.

merlin_2954759.jpg

Three wise men are seen as part of a Nativity sent from the country of South Africa, on display at the Washington D.C. Temple Visitors’ Center in Kensington, Maryland, on Nov. 29, 2022.

Brian Nicholson, for the Deseret News

merlin_2954757.jpg

A Nativity sent from the country of Oman is on display at the Washington D.C. Temple Visitors’ Center in Kensington, Maryland, Nov. 29, 2022.

Brian Nicholson, for the Deseret News

merlin_2954755.jpg

A Nativity sent from the country of Mexico is on display at the Washington D.C. Temple Visitors’ Center in Kensington, Maryland, Nov. 29, 2022.

Brian Nicholson, for the Deseret News

merlin_2954753.jpg

A Nativity sent from the country of Fiji is on display at the Washington D.C. Temple Visitors’ Center in Kensington, Maryland, Nov. 29, 2022.

Brian Nicholson, for the Deseret News

merlin_2954751.jpg

A Nativity sent from the country of Chile is on display at the Washington D.C. Temple Visitors’ Center in Kensington, Maryland, Nov. 29, 2022.

Brian Nicholson, for the Deseret News

merlin_2954749.jpg

A Nativity sent from the country of Italy is on display at the Washington D.C. Temple Visitors’ Center in Kensington, Maryland, Nov. 29, 2022.

Brian Nicholson, for the Deseret News

merlin_2954747.jpg

A Nativity sent from the United States of America is on display at the Washington D.C. Temple Visitors’ Center in Kensington, Maryland, Nov. 29, 2022.

Brian Nicholson, for the Deseret News

merlin_2954745.jpg

A Nativity sent from the country of Ghana is on display at the Washington D.C. Temple Visitors’ Center in Kensington, Maryland, Nov. 29, 2022.

Brian Nicholson, for the Deseret News

merlin_2954743.jpg

A Nativity sent from the country of Singapore is on display at the Washington D.C. Temple Visitors’ Center in Kensington, Maryland, Nov. 29, 2022.

Brian Nicholson, for the Deseret News

merlin_2954739.jpg

A Nativity sent from the country of France is on display at the Washington D.C. Temple Visitors’ Center in Kensington, Maryland, Nov. 29, 2022.

Brian Nicholson, for the Deseret News

Newsletters
Subscribe for free and get daily or weekly updates straight to your inbox
The three things you need to know everyday
Highlights from the last week to keep you informed