The Vatican has begun setting up this year's Nativity scene and Christmas tree in St. Peter's Square.
It will be the first time the Nativity scene comes from the Americas. It consists of 30 life-size pieces made by five artists from the Peruvian Andes. The Nativity scene was chosen in part to commemorate 200 years of Peru's independence and to celebrate indigenous cultures in the South American country.
The Christmas tree, about 90 feet tall, is a red spruce from Trentino, in northern Italy.
Preparations will continue through November, and the Vatican will unveil the Nativity scene and Christmas tree on Dec. 10.
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