The highlight of our Christmas decorations each year has always been my family's nativity scene. My parents bought the pieces when they were living in Germany 29 years ago and each year we have loved putting it together piece by piece. Each piece is made out or a rubbery resin so aside from bite marks, they are pretty indestructible, which make them perfect for kids. After my senior year of high school, my mom and I went on a month long trip to Europe, just the two of us. One stop was the Italian town of Lucca, close to the factory where these Fontanini figures are made. We went to the store where they were sold, and were devastated to find out that a collector had come the day before and cleaned them out. We were lamenting our bad luck and trying to salvage one Nativity set with the pieces that were left when the young storekeeper came to us and said "Here is a catalog- I need to make a trip to the factory anyway. Just let me know what pieces you want and how many and I will go today." We poured over the catalog drooling. My mom added a few pieces to her set, as well as selecting pieces for a set for each of my two sisters. I also chose all of the pieces I wanted for my set- I had been saving up for this for a while (and other purchases on our trip...) Buying them from this store was a FRACTION of the cost you can buy them for in the States. He left for the factory and we killed time exploring the Piazza and he came back with all of the figures and wrapped them up individually for us. It was soooo nice of him. This is the Piazza in Lucca.
That next Christmas, it was my family's off year for Christmas and so it was just my parents and I for Christmas Eve and morning (my mom reschedules Christmas to be the 25th and 26th on her off year). My Dad built a German mountain farmhouse for all of our Nativities to match the one he built growing up. He gave me mine Christmas morning (before my sisters got there) and I got to spend all morning setting up my nativity. It was actually a very sweet Christmas morning before all the hustle and bustle of sisters and nephews that night. Each year, I really enjoy arranging the Nativity in our home. There is no baby in the manger because he has not been born yet. Here is this year's rendition.
Each year we always include a joke- something out of place. Do you see anything? (you can't see the crackerjacks box on the balcony...- so that doesn't count.
9 years ago