ADVENT CALENDAR 2025

December 18

DRIFTWOOD SANTOS NATIVITY

Louise Ortega
Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
Driftwood
2020

This Nacimiento (Nativity) was made from driftwood gathered from the dry arroyos and riverbeds of New Mexico by santera Louise Ortega, daughter of the late santero Ben Ortega. (Santera refers to a female maker of saints, and santero to a male.) Taught by her father, Louise began her career at age 14 carving wooden animals. In recent years, the tradition of “saint making” has increasingly been taken up by women artists. Carving santos is an ancient and enduring Latino tradition of religious devotion. It is practiced in Central and South America, the Philippines, Spain, and the American Southwest.

Glencairn Museum’s World Nativities exhibition runs from November 28, 2025, to January 25, 2026. Visit us at Follow the Star: A 2025 Advent Calendar.