Portable nativity set from Krakow, 1950-2000, tinfoil, on loan from Doris Bühlmann

The Polish szopka is carried to the church in a solemn procession at Christmas. It is modelled on St Mary’s Basilica on Krakow’s old town square.

Swiss National Museum

Fold-up nativity scene from Constance, circa 1910, cardboard, sheet metal, gelatine foil, loan from Alfred Dünnenberger

With the development of graphic printing in the 19th century, nativity scenes printed on card began to appear in private households. Because they were easy to assemble and disassemble, they were also known as ‘Faulenzer-Krippen’ (lazy man’s nativity sets).

Alfred Dünnenberger

Retablo from Ayacucho, circa 1950, wood, paste, starch flour, gypsum, painted, loan from Paul Laternser

Peruvian nativity scenes in a wooden box are called ‘retablo’. They date back to Spanish missionary activity in Latin America in the 16th century.

Swiss National Museum

Sheet metal nativity scene from Haiti, 2015, oil drum metal sheet, painted, loan from Brigitta Burkhard

In this Haitian nativity scene, the Adoration of the Christ Child in the stable is taking place at the water’s edge. The Christ Child is lying in a hammock and the figures are wearing Caribbean clothing and headwear.

Swiss National Museum

Christmas photograph from France

Christmas tree on the beach at Cannes, 1976.

Collection Roger-Viollet / Roger-Viollet

Christmas photograph from Switzerland

Craft circle, circa. 1939.

Swiss National Museum

Christmas photograph from Switzerland

Father Christmas feeding birds beside a park pond, 1958.

Swiss National Museum

A view of the exhibition.

Swiss National Museum

A view of the exhibition.

Swiss National Museum

A view of the exhibition.

Swiss National Museum