As the second most Catholic country in the world (after The Vatican City), Timor-Leste takes Christmas seriously, illustrated by the Nativity Exhibition reestablished at the Nicolau Lobato Presidential Palace in 2024. This was an opportunity for Timorese from throughout the country to demonstrate their ingenuity and devotion through the creation of nativity scenes.

77 Nativity scenes were displayed at the Place over Christmas and the New Year, with 22 created by children.

I visited early one morning to have the place to myself. In the evenings there was a market fair outside the Palace and it was a popular event.

There is a huge variety of styles and techniques adopted to telling the familiar story of the nativity, with baby Jesus, Joseph and Mary, and the three wise men.

I don’t remember Father Christmas also being there from my time at Sunday School, but he gatecrashed a number of the scenes.

There was a strong reuse of materials, in particularly plastic bottles, of which there is no shortage in Timor-Leste.

It was a fascinating exhibition, and something very Timor-Leste, and worth visiting.