Editing Nativity scene (section)

===Philippines (''Belén'')===
{{See also|Christmas in the Philippines|Panunulúyan|Parol}}
[[File:Candon Church Christmas 2009.JPG|thumb|A ''Belén'' set up in the altar of the [[Candon Church]] in the [[Philippines]] with a [[parol]] above it]]
In the majority-[[Catholic]] [[Philippines]], miniature, full-scale, or giant [[diorama]]s  or [[Tableau vivant|tableau]]s of the nativity scene are known as ''Belén'' (from the Spanish name for [[Bethlehem]]). They were introduced by the Spanish since the 16th century. They are an iconic and ubiquitous Christmas symbol in the Philippines, on par with the [[parol]] (Christmas lanterns depicting the [[Star of Bethlehem]]) which are often incorporated into the scene as the source of illumination. Both the ''Belén'' and the ''parol'' were the traditional [[Christmas decorations]] in Filipino homes before [[American colonial period of the Philippines|Americans]] introduced the [[Christmas tree]].<ref name="Bondoc">{{cite news |last1=Bondoc |first1=Joshua |title=Christmas in our isles, a long enduring feast (First published 1978, TV Times magazine) |url=https://www.philstar.com/opinion/2021/12/22/2149349/christmas-our-isles-long-enduring-feast-first-published-1978-tv-times-magazine |access-date=24 December 2021 |work=PhilStar Global |date=22 December 2021}}</ref><ref name="Ferrolino">{{cite news |last1=Ferrolino |first1=Mark Louis F. |title=A Christmas like no other |url=https://www.bworldonline.com/christmas-like-no/ |access-date=24 December 2021 |work=BusinessWorld |date=15 December 2017}}</ref><ref name="Macairan">{{cite news |last1=Macairan |first1=Evelyn |title='Belen most important Christmas decor' |url=https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2010/12/19/640363/belen-most-important-christmas-decor |access-date=24 December 2021 |work=PhilStar Global |date=19 December 2010}}</ref><ref name="Gonzalez">{{cite book |last1=Gonzalez |first1=Joaquin Jay |title=Filipino American Faith in Action: Immigration, Religion, and Civic Engagement |date=2009 |publisher=NYU Press |isbn=9780814732977 |page=18}}</ref><ref name="Laquian">{{cite news |last1=Laquian |first1=Eleanor R. |title=Christmas Belen tradition brings Baby Jesus to Vancouver homes |url=https://www.canadianfilipino.net/sections/culture/christmas-belen-tradition-brings-baby-jesus-to-vancouver-homes?start=8 |access-date=24 December 2021 |work=CanadianFilipino.net}}</ref> Most churches in the Philippines also transform their altars into a ''Belén'' at Christmas. They are also found in schools (which also hold [[nativity play]]s), government buildings, commercial establishments, and in public spaces.<ref name="Dice">{{cite book |last1=Dice |first1=Elizabeth A. |title=Christmas and Hanukkah |date=2009 |publisher=Infobase Publishing |isbn=9781438119717 |page=33}}</ref><ref name="Bowler">{{cite book |last1=Bowler |first1=Gerry |title=The World Encyclopedia of Christmas |date=2012 |publisher=McClelland & Stewart |isbn=9781551996073}}</ref><ref name="Llamas">{{cite news |last1=Llamas |first1=Cora |title=The Philippines Has the Longest Christmas Season in the World |url=https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2021/december/philippines-longest-christmas-season-commercialism-catholic.html |access-date=24 December 2021 |work=Christianity Today |date=20 December 2021}}</ref>

The city of [[Tarlac]] holds an annual competition of giant ''Belén'' in a festival known as "Belenismo sa Tarlac".<ref name="pna">{{cite news |last1=Moaje |first1=Marita |title='Belenismo' continues tradition of bringing hope, inspiration |url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1159756 |access-date=24 December 2021 |work=Philippine News Agency |agency=Republic of the Philippines |date=15 November 2021}}</ref><ref name="Concepcion">{{cite news |last1=Concepcion |first1=Pocholo |title=Bringing back the 'belen' |url=https://lifestyle.inquirer.net/278893/bringing-back-belen/ |access-date=24 December 2021 |work=Lifestyle.Inq |agency=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=15 November 2017}}</ref><ref name="Dayrit">{{cite news |last1=Dayrit |first1=Christine |title=Belenismo: A spectacle of hope |url=https://www.philstar.com/lifestyle/sunday-life/2018/12/16/1877192/belenismo-spectacle-hope |access-date=24 December 2021 |work=PhilStar Global |date=16 December 2018}}</ref>