Once I took a Reality Field Trip to Mexico with a fun group of students and parents. That trip took us shopping of course to a flea market. I stopped by a stall that had the most beautiful and simple Nativity scenes. Each figure was made of clay and each figure because they were hand painted was unique and different. I guess I ooo-and-ah-ed quite a while there because on our final morning, in the hotel lobby the kids and parents presented me with a lovely Nativity scene, a thank you for organizing and chaperoning the trip! I knew right away this would be a Christmas present I would treasure for a lifetime. I took out a few figures nestled in shredded newspaper and thanked them from the bottom of my heart.
It wasn’t until I got home unpacked and excitedly set out the pieces on the coffee table to share this treasure with my husband that he asked,
“Hey, where’s the Baby Jesus?”
“What?,” I was incredulous.
We emptied the whole box of shredded paper the figures were packed in safely on the carpet, and then our fingers combed through it all never finding the Baby Jesus. We searched over and over still in denial. “It must be here! There’s Mary and Joseph, three Wise Men, a shepherd, 4 sheep, a cow and an angel.” 12 figures.
And then it dawned on me. My dad had taught me a lesson shopping in an open air market. We had always enjoyed the colorful blown glasses from Mexico on the table for dinner, so with each trip back we always bought more glasses to replenish the broken ones. I remember my dad and I chose a dozen glasses, golden in color similar to the shape we already had at home. I chattered with my dad about other purchases and the vendor packed everything into our shopping bag. But…before we left, Dad reached in and counted very matter-of-factly, “uno, dos, tres,…once. ¿Dónde está doce? Pero, señor ¿dónde está el número doce?” The vendor didn’t even double check my dad’s count. “O aquí está, señor,” and he handed the twelfth glass over smiling a broad respectful grin and there was an exchange of looks that lasted longer than a glance. Yes, it was a look of respect the vendor gave my dad for not having fallen for his trick.
“Daddy, he didn’t even double check your count?” My dad just smiled.
We didn’t say any more about it, but I had some thoughts that I kept to myself. “Hmmm… if that vendor encounters enough unwitting customers in a day, he’s a whole dozen ahead,” I thought to myself. We didn’t really discuss it, just knew it was the reality of shopping in the flea market. Clever? Dishonest? A game, the vendor plays? I opted for the latter because it resulted in a knowing exchange of looks.
Back to the Nativity gift. My brother who was in Germany asked what I wanted for Christmas that year.
I told him, “You know, I have the loveliest Nativity scene, but it doesn’t have the Baby Jesus. Can you find me one about 2″ high in a manger by 3.5″ long? It would be perfect to have a distinct wooden figure in the center among the other clay figures.”
“Is that all? No Hummel figure? No Christmas ornaments?” my brother confirmed.
My husband and I enjoyed our wooden figure and it turned out it was just the right size. Over the years friends have traveled to Saudi Arabia and Israel. “What can we bring you back?” they have asked.
“A small figure to add to my Nativity scene,” I have told them.
So, over the years we have added brass camels from Saudi Arabia, olivewood sheep and camels from Israel, and still another camel and elephant from India. I love our eclectic scene. The clay, the wood and the metal. Soft, firm and very strong. In Genesis we are told that God formed man from the dust of the ground, from the clay of the earth. James Joyce uses it as a symbol for what is common and mundane. The holy Tabernacle was framed in acacia wood. Brass is symbolic of sin. It is a mixed metal, impure when compared to silver or gold. The Torah uses it to symbolize judgment. I marvel how these figures all reside together now.
Georgette, this is a wonderful post. How special is your Nativity set! Unlike any other, I’m sure. It’s nice to have a specific request when someone is travelling abroad and asks what they can bring back to you.
Thank you for sharing the story of your Nativity!
This scene is over 30 years old and it remains packed in the original box and shredded paper. The girls love to bring it out and grandson, too, is learning to fall in love with it. Thank you for reading the story that goes with it.
This is lovely, Georgette. As I read, I wondered if there was something sacred about not including Baby Jesus in Nativity sets. Growing up, my Mom always waited until Christmas Eve before adding Baby Jesus.
Do you know which piece your Dad received from the vendor?
Another wonderful and interesting story of your past, Georgette. As always, I enjoyed it greatly. And, I love the diversity of your set.
The story of the vendor and my dad was another story within a story…when I learned we had to always account for a complete set of what we purchased in open air markets. The vendor handed him the missing glass, gold colored like the 11 others. I love that your mother reserved Baby Jesus for Christmas Eve. I will have to remember that and share with my daughters and the rest of the family.
I’m sure that with the uniqueness of your nativity scene, it makes it all the more special to you over the years. I still cherish the one my gram gave me years ago and now my own kids can admire it.
What a wonderful thing to pass down from gram to you, from you to your children. For Christmas years ago I started a collection for my sister made by Fontanini. She has quite a village now.
What a wonderful reminder this is that the story of the season isn’t meant for just one people, but for all. The coming of the Wise Men was a first sign that God meant for those gathered around the crib to be “mix and match”, rather than a “matched set”!
I love how you think. I agree.
Eclectic is so much more interesting than matchy-matchy anyway. Somewhere, that little baby Jesus you never got is probably hanging out in an equally eclectic nativity scene : )
I hope so. I have never thought of that.
very cool. i like how you’ve mixed and added.
Thank you, TWG. We love the original and added on pieces equally. Thank you for reading.
Great post — I love the international aspect of your nativity scene, too. After all, that IS the point.
My late sister Judy, a single mother of 3, had a nativity scene that came without Joseph. She thought it was quite fitting! It is now a family treasure. Like yours, it wouldn’t be if not for the difference!
How significant for your sister, that it just came that way. Oh my…your story gives me chill bumps.
Well, my sister was known to embellish so you never know how much of her stories are true. This one seems to fit though!
I love your story! How special that nativity scene is for you – all different aspects of it. I especially liked how you tied in meanings to the clay, wood, and metal. So meaningful. Your eclectic set which each different and distinct part also reminds me that Christ came for all mankind — no matter what we look like, where we’re from, or what our sins have been. What a wonderful reminder on another Sunday during Advent.
I love your thoughtful comments always confirming or adding to what I have observed in our faith journey. As always, I value your input very much.
Your story returns an authenticity to my Christmas, Georgette. What a wonderful project that culminates in all sorts of different expressions of love. Many thanks.
I’m so glad this speaks to you. souldipper. I love that Central America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia are represented.
What a cool story, Georgette. We have a place here called 10,000 Villages with things from all over the world, looks like something I could piece together there, but not quite the same.
I’m sure you can find something there. It’s all about proportion to make a pleasing set of figures. I certainly enjoyed your interview styled post today. I must tell you I read “chica andaluza’s” comments with interest as she is near where my relatives in Spain live and used to live. I must stop by her site and give her a hello as I haven’t been by her blog since last summer.
I enjoyed your post and the beautiful pieces of the nativity set. It makes it more special that each piece or group of pieces has a unique story attached. Those are the kind of family stories that make great Christmas memories.
I’m so glad you enjoyed the post. I just stopped by your site and read for a spell. I look forward to reading more. It’s fun to learn you’re from Texas.
What a wonderful nativity…I especially love that you think of your nativity when asked what someone can bring you back from their travels. enJOY your Christmas!
Brrrrr…it’s cold and I’m looking forward to more fires in the fireplace this week. We are enjoying being inside, lighting the tree and remembering the Christmases past that the decorations trigger in our thoughts. Your winter garden is amazing! My MIL was so good at that.
What a wonderful story…and beautiful little figures…and how odd that the baby Jesus was left out…one of the other figures I can understand, but not the baby Jesus… I hope it was just a mistake.
I hope it was a mistake too.
I loved this. Another reminder that it doesn’t have to be perfectly matched to be perfectly ours. And your set looks spectacular! I keep going back to the last photo of your bejeweled elephant and camel … ooh ahh.
MJ
I’m so glad you enjoyed them, MJ. I love they were hand made. And when I saw the elephant my friends brought back, I thought he would make a great addition representing the Asian continent. They are all perfect in my view.
Well, of course there’s only one Jesus…the vendor South of the border couldn’t let you have Him all to yourself. When we set up our creche the manger is empty except for a few animals. As Advent progresses the Wisemen, Mary/Joseph, and the angels migrate from different parts of the house, moving steadily closer week by week until they arrive at the manger. The Christ child doesn’t appear until Christmas eve.
One year, I misplaced Jesus and he lurked around the house until I found him during Lenten Spring cleaning. It was kind of nice feeling knowing Jesus hanging around the house somewhere.
I see why you couldn’t resist your beautiful creche, and what an adventure in harmony it’s led you on. Lovely sentiments.
I love that your figures migrate to the creche! Perhaps via the Oregon Trail! Lenore Diane also, mentioned this tradition in her family that the Baby Jesus is placed there on Christmas Eve. Love both variations.
This is such a lovely story, Georgette. What began as dismay at the vendor’s cheating (or perhaps neglect), has now become a project that represents exactly how the world is meant to be — a beautiful mix. How very splendid!
I’m so glad it’s pleasing to you. As you said, who knows if the vendor cheated or neglected to place all the figures in the box? It came to be a very wonderful memory.
What a lovely story, and such a great lesson to take away. Your nativity set is surely one of a kind!
One of a kind and assembled over the years. I’m so glad you like this story. Thank you for visiting.
How incredibly awesome is that?!?! I swear, Georgette – you never cease to amaze me with your life experiences & story-telling abilities!! I’m hooked on every word & truly ‘feel’ I’m there in what you’re sharing. Thanks, friend!
Thank you for visiting still again, friend. You’re too kind. I sit in this chair and hope for inspiration, then there it is. I’m collecting these stories for the family. I don’t have a book yet, but I will some day.
People all have stories about their christmas tree decorations but this is the best one I’ve ever heard. The figures come from all over the world, and are made from everything and anything you could every imagine. And you still wrap them up in the original box!
You know you should write a children’s book about them. I’m serious!
I never thought of that. You are so encouraging!
We had a preacher once who refused to allow us to put baby Jesus in the beautifully hand made and simply divine nativity that an elderly lady in the church had spent so much time crafting painting and then lovingly donated. He said the baby could only be added AFTER Christmas. So her sole jewel had to remain in the wrappings for many years as we pretty much undecorated after Christmas. Perhaps this was the thinking. Merry Christmas.
Makes you wonder about some preachers, huh? Where is common sense? LD and Barb both mentioned placing the Baby Jesus in the nativity on Christmas Day. I’ve learned so much through this one post.
My MIL’s sisters gave our girls hand painted dolls, the kind that aren’t played with except for just one day in the year, Christmas day. The rest of the year they reside in the doll cabinet. You’ve given me another idea for a post. Thank you friend.
What a great story! I think Nativity sets are beautiful reminders at Christmas. I like the fact that you really emphasized the symbolism in them.
I’m so glad you enjoyed the figures, AC.
This is so beautiful!
Thank you, sws.
Love this, Georgette! I love your eclectic treasures, the memories, the meaning.
Brought back wonderful childhood memories of my lying on the carpet playing with the humble figures in the manger.
So glad this brought memories to you. And I remember the Nativity my grandmother sent from Alaska. The figures were plastic so safe in our hands. I think she purchased it from the Sears catalog. What I remember the most about it was it had a music box that played “Silent Night”. We would come home from school, beeline it to the music box and wind it up!
Love your story of your very special Nativity scene. I wish I knew what happened to the ones my parents had when we were growing up. Some years I think I would like to buy myself one, but then I think it seems silly to buy one now that would have no memories for the kids. Mthey would never even see it since we don’t spend Christmas here.
My grandmother in Alaska sent us one with a music box that played “Silent Night.” The figures were plastic and the stable was cardboard. I believe she got it through the Sears catalogue. We loved it. For my sister I started a collection of Fontanini nativity figures…with her Italian name and all, I thought it was appropriate. Over the years she has quite a village now. Check out Fontanini, it would make a great annual gift and you could enjoy it when you visit. Just suggesting…I can get carried away…Thank you for reading.
Thanks for the suggestions. I should look for bargains after Christmas. My daughter collects angels, so I could add to that. I would love to have a little Christmas village a la Dickens.
Before the Christmas season got jaded with shopping and all, there was the “Nativity” family, of a baby named Jesus to save us from ourselves and to be man’s symbol of salvation. Christmas was and is about his birth and the hope it brings. Thank you for sharing this post. I grew up adoring this simple and yet beautiful nativity scene. I remember kissing the infant’s Jesus forehead after each Christmas mass celebration. It was an awesome experience. Now it’s my turn to share it with my son.
Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year to you and your family.
Peace, love, joy, hope. Those are the messages of Christmas. I’m so glad you visited and it brought happy memories of what the Nativity means to you and your whole family.
I really enjoyed this post, and think your Nativity scene is great. Loved your story behind it.
Thank you, Munchow for visiting. I think the Nativity was destined in a very good way to come without the baby in the manger.
I have thought often about your post “Never Rest” since I read it. I am met with “Sit down and rest” by so many; so, your post encouraging the creativity in me…for me, it’s usually in a kinesthetic way…was such a welcome read.