Figures

One of our objectives of El Belén has been to emphasize the human side of its main characters. Note that Joseph and Mary were normal and humble people. Our artists tried and got as close as possible to the real history. All figures have been handmade from clay.

The design of Nazareth inhabitants’ clothes is based on some illustrations by William Hole, taken from the book Vida de Jesús written by Father José Mª. Bover, s.j.

Joseph’s and Mary’s figures have been reproduced with historic fidelity since they got married approximately at the age of 27 and 18, respectively. For this reason, Joseph and Mary are shown as young people.

The design of centurions’ and Roman guards’ clothes is taken from a book by William Barclay, Jesus of Nazareth. However, Jewish people’s clothes are inspired by illustrations by William Hole in the book Vida de Nuestro Señor Jesucristo.

Bethlehem women’s clothes consisted of a cloak, generally decorated with two red or blue straps, covering their hair, a tight waist-length tunic, a wide leather belt and a pair of sandals.

The shepherds have interesting details such as wristbands, the pierced pouch and the shepherd’s knife in a horn. This knife was used to make small incisions to sheeps to reduce their blood pressure because they accumulated too much blood in their heads.