Most nativity scenes take up counter space or a bookshelf. The record-breaking Christmas scene in Mexico City takes up an entire parking lot in the giant Estadio Azteca sports stadium and is bigger than four football fields.
The scene — which covers 215,000 square feet, cost $2 million to build, includes more than 5,000 figures and weighs a total of 700 tons — comprises 57 smaller scenes that recall the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem more than 2,000 years ago.
The Mexico City nativity scene has been certified by the Guinness Book of World Records for two records: as the largest nativity scene in the world and another for having the greatest number of figures for a scene of this type.
Many of the pieces and figures, including camels, burros, elephants, the Three Kings, an angel and some of the residents of Bethlehem, were crafted by Mexican artisans over 70 days, and some of them actually move.
Organizers expect that more than 1 million people will visit the nativity scene, which is open through Jan. 15.