World’s largest nativity scene set up in Mexico City
December 9th, 2011 - 11:45 am ICT by IANSMexico City, Dec 9 (IANS/EFE) Mexico City authorities have set up the Guinness-certified largest nativity scene in the world as part of their Christmas festivities.
The nativity scene, which cost $2 million to create, was unveiled Wednesday by capital Mayor Marcelo Ebrard in the parking lot of the giant Azteca stadium.
The scene, which covers 20,000 square meters and has 5,000 figures and 700 tonnes of infrastructure, is comprised of 57 smaller scenes that recall the biblical passages discussing the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem more than 2,000 years ago.
Organizers said that this nativity scene took 70 days to fashion and that task was performed by architects, engineers, designers and historians, among others.
They said that many of the pieces and figures - including camels, elephants, the Three Kings, an angel and some of the residents of Bethlehem - were crafted by Mexican artisans and many of them actually move.
The Mexico City government said in a communique that the scene has set two Guinness records, one for the largest nativity scene in the world and another for having the greatest number of figures for a scene of this type.
Organizers said they were sure that more than 1 million people will come to view the scene between now and Jan 15.
–IANS/EFE
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Tags: azteca stadium, bethlehem, biblical passages, birth of jesus, camels, christmas festivities, city authorities, city government, efe, elephants, guinness records, historians, marcelo ebrard, mexican artisans, mexico city, nativity scene, organizers, square meters, three kings, tonnes