"Do you have nativity sets?" – "Nativity sets?" – "You know cribs or manger scenes!"– "Cribs, mangers?"– "Well, ah, Jesus, Mary, Joseph in a stable." – "O, I see, no, we don't have any."
This dialogue conducted in many a gift shop of the Miami Valley over the past three to four years seems to suggest that one of the most popular Christmas traditions in Latin American and European countries is little known in the American Midwest. True or false?
Whatever the response, this display would like to introduce the visitor to some aspects of the creche culture. Crèche, Krippe, Nacimiento, and Presepe – all these foreign sounding words refer to Christ's second dwelling place on earth, the manger or crib of Bethlehem ... the first habitat, as we know, having been Mary's womb. The center of any and all nativity sets is the Christchild. Everyone and everything else revolves around him, as fits the "firstborn of creation." In his company there is the whole world: his mother and first disciple, Mary, the faithful but struggling Joseph, ox and ass as representatives of the animal reign, and the shepherds and magi, meaning the rich and poor of this world. The star in heaven and the angels hovering over the Child are a constant reminder that the world is one with God, and the Child himself one of the Trinity. But pious imagination did not stop at the traditional actors and actresses of the Christmas event. Other figures were added, and whole new stories interwoven with that of the birth of Christ. They all have this powerful message: Christ is born for all of us, at any given time, no matter color or culture. The Christchild is a magnet which attracts people from all walks of life. They all bring gifts of gratitude, visible and invisible ones, and converge on him who gives them faith, hope and love for God and each other.
This exhibit shows samples of this age-old and uninterrupted procession of people journeying to the poor-rich God among us. The sets exhibited are from many countries, showing a variety of local customs and traditions. They also tell us that a nativity set is not just a nativity set, but part of the story of how Christianity has shaped the culture of people whose faith was captured by the good news of Christ's birth and presence among them. But not to forget: The nativity sets in this exhibit are also signs of the many ways in which human culture has helped the message of God to be better understood and more gratefully cherished.
-- Johann G. Roten, SM
 1 From Mud
to
Marvel United States Kevin Hanna |
15 Adored
and
Persecuted Germany Walter Werner Setting – Michel Forest
|
29 To the
Farthest
Ends Ivory Coast Kahola Studios Setting – Michel Forest |
| 2 The Best of
Two
Worlds France – Alsatia Pascale Delorme Setting – Don Smith |
16 Of
Fragile
Beauty
Mexico Angelita Gutierez Setting – Michel Forest |
30 Heaven
on
Earth
Austria Meusburger Family Setting – J. G. Roten |
| 3 Nutcracker
Suite
Germany Christian Steinbach (Smithsonian) Setting – J. G. Roten |
17 Hymn of
Creation
Mexico Jose E. L. Tomas Setting – Michel Forest |
31 He
Always Comes Our
Way Czech Republic M. & A. Raboch Setting – Marjorie Yefchak |
| 4 New Life
and Old
Skins Mexico Raphael Arista Setting – J. G. Roten
|
18 From the
Mountain
Tops Alpine Regions of Europe Gilberte Schneider Setting – J. G. Roten |
32 To the
Little and
Simple Ones... France – Provence Marcel Carbonel Setting – M. Forest and J. Barrish |
| 5 Black and
Beautiful
USA Ed van Rosmalen (ENESCO) Setting – Michel Forest |
19 A Labor
of
Love
Slovakia Peter Palka Setting – Marjorie Yefchak |
33 A
Heavenly
Ballet
USA Franklin Mint Setting – Marjorie Yefchak |
| 6 As It Was
in the
Beginning Austria – Canada John Schnegg |
20 "God
will conceal
me..." Holy Land Annuntiata Bregy Setting – J. G. Roten |
34 Between
Light and
Darkness USA Dennis Brown (Enesco) Setting – J. G. Roten |
| 7 In Deep
Winter Canada John Schnegg |
21 The Jar
That Was a
Mountain Spain Unknown Setting – Marjorie Yefchak |
35 Back to
the
Essentials Alpine Regions of Europe Gilberte Schneider Setting – Marjorie Yefchak |
| 8 A Starry
Night
Germany Dammer Family Setting – J. G. Roten |
22 To the
Center of the
Earth Austria R. Himmelbauer Setting – Brian Zampier |
36 Shelter
Seeking
Austria H. Störinger Setting – Marjorie Yefchak |
| 9 The Global
Village
France – Provence Gustave Schneider |
23 All
Roads Lead to the
Manger Italy Fontanini Family Setting – J. G. Roten |
37 Flight to
Egypt on
Wheels USA Jil Gurule Setting – Marjorie Yefchak |
| 10 Jesus
Christ in Heidi
Land Switzerland Barmettler Family Setting – Michel Forest |
24 The
Magic
Lantern Switzerland Matthäa Wirz Setting – Cathy Nealon |
38 Carved
in
Bone
Mexico Placido Hdz. Lopez Setting – J. G. Roten |
| 11 In
Search of
Truth
Switzerland Caritas Müller Setting – Marjorie Yefchak |
25 Life is
Theater
Italy Angela Tripi, Peter Wolff Setting – J. G. Roten |
39 Jesus in
the
Box
Austria Hermine Arbeitshuber |
| 12 From the
Orient...
Egypt Ausa (Garagos) Setting – Michel Forest |
26 Family
Portrait
Poland S. Apriasz Setting – Joe Barrish |
40 My
House Is a House
of Prayer Mexico Unknown |
| 13 With
Children's
Eyes USA (Midwest) Eddie Walker Setting – Michel Forest |
27
Anonymous
Christmas? Switzerland Verena Hirt Setting – Don Smith |
41 Carved
in
Stone
Peru Unknown Setting – J.G. Roten |
| 14 Breaking
and Sharing
the Light USA (Dayton) Jo Leach Setting – Michel Forest
|
28 Lying on a Bed of
Straw Mexico Bernardino Marquez Setting – Judy Potter |
Entire
Exhibit Large File 10 min. to load. |
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