Peruvian collector turns family tradition into a global showcase of Christmas culture: Video
For more than three decades, a private home in Lima has been transformed each Christmas into a global display of nativity scenes, reflecting how the holiday is interpreted across different cultures.
The collection belongs to Miriam Valencia, who has spent over 30 years assembling more than 350 nativity scenes from around the world, turning a personal tradition into a cultural attraction for visitors and online audiences alike.
Footage recorded this week shows shelves and tables throughout Valencia’s home filled with nativity displays of varying sizes, materials and styles. The scenes represent countries and regions including Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, Spain, Italy and Hungary, as well as broader cultural interpretations from Africa, the Caribbean and the Middle East, highlighting the diversity of Christmas traditions beyond their European origins.
Valencia began building the collection in 1991, after the death of her father just days before Christmas Eve. What started as a way to preserve the spirit of the season during a period of personal loss gradually evolved into an annual event, with visitors coming to view the displays and engage with the different cultural expressions of the nativity story.
Encouraged by growing interest from both local and international visitors, Valencia now plans to seek global recognition for her collection. “I want to fill out the application, apply to the Guinness Records,” she said, explaining that visitors from Peru and abroad have told her they have not seen an entire house dedicated to such a wide range of nativity scenes and traditions.
Despite suffering a serious fall earlier this week, Valencia said she remains committed to continuing the tradition, which takes around two months each year to assemble. For her, the project has come to represent more than a seasonal display, reflecting a long-standing effort to share cultural diversity and keep a personal legacy alive through a universally recognised celebration.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
