When I was a child, I used to spend hours playing with the nativity set my mom had. I’d rearrange the characters and tell myself their story. Baby Jesus had to go in the back of the stable so he could stay warm. The three wise men had to be arranged just so, so that their faces looked at Jesus. The sheep had to look natural (you know it when you see it).
When I became an adult, I wanted a nativity scene just like the one with which I had grown up. I found plenty of beautiful porcelain figures, crystal sets and even nativities done as s’mores. Just not what I was envisioning.
Until one day in a Christian bookstore, I found the nativity that filled my heart with joy. Real looking characters, just like my mom’s. I could imagine my children and grandchildren rearranging them all Christmas season. The only problem was they were expensive. VERY expensive. My sweet husband gifted me the holy family that year and thus began my collection.
I’ve been collecting the Fontanini nativity pieces since the 90’s. Each year I look for one more piece to add. My collection is small compared to some I’ve seen on the internet, but it is beginning to outgrow the table my husband built for it years ago.
Each year as I pull the pieces out, I get the same feeling I had as a child. I want to tell the story with how they’re arranged. I imagine the stories of the newest character and place them just so.
The inn keeper’s wife wonders what all the commotion is while her husband considers whether renting out the stable was a good idea.
The wise men’s servant is tired and doesn’t want to draw water from the well.
I have been frustrated with the drunken camels (they won’t stand up) and delighted to find a discontinued angel named Celeste. I, of course, had to buy her.
At night there is a light in the stable. I wish I could photograph it so that you could see how beautiful it is in the dark.
I confess my goal is to construct a whole village of Bethlehem, but I’m not in a hurry because I still enjoy playing with my nativity set every year.
Do you have a decoration or tradition that really represents the Christmas season to you? Tell us in the comments section below.
Thanks for joining me here,
Celeste
That is absolutely beautiful! I have multiple nativity sets I have collected over the years and love them all. Concerned that my recent injuries are going to prevent me from being unable to unpack and enjoy them this year. From the year the first grandchild was born I’ve also had multiple sets down just for them to play with. Not until this last one has anyone been so infatuated with them. 16 years since they were purchased and last year was the first year we lost pieces. Innoway it makes them more precious to me knowing that as a three-year-old he read in acted the story over and over and love those little things so much that he would chuck them and pockets and carry them everywhere.
Janet so sorry you’re having to deal with injuries right now.I hope you recover quickly. I can hardly wait to have my grandbabies interact with the nativity. I still have my mom’s stored away for the future.