We have a tradition in our family of adding to our nativity collection each year at Christmas time. We started this tradition our first year of marriage with a nativity from Ten Thousand Villages (a fair trade retailer). Since then we have collected quite a variety and I love each one. They are my favorite Christmas items to unpack. Each one brings fond memories of not only my Savior, but of where and when we acquired the nativity or who gifted it to us. We have nativities from Peru, Indonesia, Hawaii, Switzerland, Bangladesh, the U.S., the Little People, and this year Germany.
I have fond memories of my mother's nativity. It was a white ceramic set she had made at a women's group activity. My mom would constantly ask us to stop playing with the fragile set. Obviously we did not listen because eventually a little sheep lost a leg in an unfortunate encounter with the floor. He forever after kind of tilted to the side as if he was favoring his hurt leg. We had our first fatality this year of a Peruvian wise man.
I hope my kids have memories of setting out the nativity scenes and remembering our Savior's birth as they walk past the familiar figures. I let them handle them because I want them to have a connection to them as well. I think it gives them time to ponder about our Savior. One thing I especially love about our nativities, is that they come from around the world; reminding us not only of different cultures, but that Christ is truly the Savior of the World. If you are able, I know that many churches or communities have living nativities or creche displays. What a great family activity!
You don't have to have a house full a nativities to keep the Christmas spirit. Any simple creche will do as a simple, symbolic reminder of the true meaning of the season.
I have found two really adorable, printable versions of the nativity that your kids can color and display. They would be a quick, fun addition to any nativity collection this season. Also a great activity while you are trying to get dinner made because that is always my favorite time of day--sense my sarcasm?
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In addition, The Piano Guys just released their latest video Angels We Have Heard on High. While filming they broke the record for the largest nativity. I was brought to tears as the living nativity was surrounded by thousands of angels come to worship our tiny Savior. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. We have already watched it repeatedly.
May your season be filled with fond memories or our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
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