Snapshot Saturday is hosted by At Home with Books.
Today's snapshot theme: Nativity Sets
The first nativity set that I acquired after marriage. All the characters are painted on wood blocks by an artisan that had a booth at a crafts fair.
Lizzie High nativity set. My mother gave me Joseph, Mary, and Baby Jesus as a gift. Over the years I added the angel, a shepherd, and a wise man. Made of wood, cloth, and wool.
My most precious nativity set was crafted by my sister, who is very creative, out of dough art. Each piece has to be shaped out of dough, dried, baked, and then painted. They are so special to our family not only because they are one-of-a kind but because of all the love that went into making it. When the girls were little they would fight over who got to arrange them.
Rita, my oldest daughter, collects Lucy Riggs figurines. Every Christmas she decorates the top of the piano with her collection. In the center of her display is this small nativity scene.
By far my oddest nativity set was purchased at a Fair Trade market, the artisan lives in Africa and is able to make a living wage by creating such interesting gifts. The characters are made from gourds. This unique set makes me smile each year when I set it out.
Believe it or not, I actually have one more set (not pictured here), a small nativity set made in Mexico that I have on display in my library case at school. I highlight different winter holidays such as Feliz Navidad/Posadas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Chinese New Year, Yule, and Diwali.
If you want to read a very funny book which includes several scenes involving nativity sets, try Dave Barry's, The Angel, the Shepherd, and Walter the Christmas Miracle Dog.
I'd love to hear about our nativity sets, if you have any.
What a fun collection of Nativity scenes! I like the one your sister made the best. My mother in law made us one out of clay one year and I always marvel at the detail she put into it.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful collection!
ReplyDeleteOh, I love your collections! I have a couple of Lizzie High dolls, and they are so cute. I've never seen a Lizzie High Nativity set before. Sweet!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing...and for visiting my blog.
These are all so fun! I love the play dough ones! I just have a boring cheap set. Oh well.
ReplyDeleteGreat nativity scenes, I especially like the gourd one. However, I am SUPER impressed with the one your sister made!
ReplyDeleteI love the nativity set your sister made and the bear figures are adorable!
ReplyDeleteYou have some beautiful nativity sets!
Such a lovely collection! I especially love the Lizzie High set -- I've always thought her dolls are so cute.
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend, and thanks for the visit!
~ Joy @ Joysweb
I love the gourds! That's very cool. Great pictures.
ReplyDeleteHere's my snapshot.
What pretty nativity sets. And how nice that they all have a story behind them. I've never seen one like the gourds.
ReplyDeletelove the nativity sets.. i love collecting sets of dolls and love the hand-made set - so bright and colorful
ReplyDeleteIsn't it funny that Mary is traditionally pictured as wearing blue but that the Nativity scenes in our home only 2 of them are wearing blue. According to a 1918 Ladies Home Journal,“...the generally accepted rule is pink for the boy and blue for the girl. The reason is that pink being a more decided and stronger color is more suitable for the boy, while blue, which is more delicate and dainty, is prettier for the girl.”
ReplyDeleteWhich is why when I pulled out the Nativity with Mary in pink this year I was taken aback that I hadn't noticed the oddity before.
Things to ponder...
Fisher Price made a Little People nativity set - my mom has one.
ReplyDelete