Setting up the Nativity is the most religious act in decking the halls. As a child growing up in Boston, we had a Nativity with Neapolitan Baroque style figures made in plaster. They were European with Italian features. We credit St. Francis of Assisi for creating Nativity after he visited Bethlehem.
When I joined the ABC Youth Ministry department in Valley Forge in 1978, my colleagues gave us a Nativity made by Palestinian refugees whose doll figures were dressed in local fabrics and featured Middle Eastern faces. There were only the figures and no manger that seems to say that just as the Holy Family was seeking a place to stay, Palestinians today are still seeking a home to live in peace.
Over the course of many years, I directed national youth conferences at Green Lake, WI where American Baptists gather for a closer walk with God. At Green Lake, there is a craft store that sells products created by people all over the world for economic development. One of the products they had were Nativity sets from the different countries that American Baptist had mission partnerships. At the end of a youth conference, I would buy a Nativity that had enough pieces for each member of the conference staff. I wrote the conference name and dates on the bottom and wrapped each piece up with newsprint. Each person picked one. Once everyone has unwrapped his/her figure, we set up the Nativity for that one time. Afterward, we took our pieces home to integrate with our own Nativities. Perhaps you still have your Nativity piece.
On pilgrimages to the Holy Lands, we would shop at the Bethlehem Souvenir Store in the West Bank where I purchased an olive wood Nativity and additional angels to give to each pilgrim seeking the Baby Jesus. We would place all of the figures together for that one time and return them to our respective homes to remember what we have experienced. I smile when I see one of these figures displayed in a home at Christmas.
The typical figures in a Nativity are a composite of two of the Synoptic Gospels. In Luke we have shepherds and angels. In Matthew, we have the star and the Magi. For the life of me, I can’t find any mention of cows, donkeys and lambs.
Our Nativity Crèche is now like a food court. We have pieces from different Nativity sets. The pieces are from different countries in the world. People today seeking the Baby Jesus have created Nativity sets reflecting their own cultures and facial features. Just like a food court reflecting all kinds of cuisine, Jesus the Christ is coming into the world to be Lord and Savior of all people. A Food Court Crèche represents the Holy Family is making us all one family.
Christ descended, Christ ascended, Christ transcended.