I love nativity sets, and I love all of mine in particular. Someday I hope to add Lladro and Nao sets, but to be honest, I'm starting to run out of display space without turning our home into a living nativity (though that's not a bad idea... I wonder if our dog would submit to dressing up as a donkey, and our cat as a sheep. Hmm...).
Here's what I have out this year:
I love this wooden Nativity set! A beloved family friend of M's made it, which makes it even more special. Knowing whose hands carefully cut these pieces makes it so much more dear to me.
Note the tape holding the stockings on the mantle... I still can't find my stocking hangers and think I may need to purchase more if I can't find them in the next few days.
This Autom set is my smallest; I love how I can tuck it into the room anywhere and it fits perfectly.
This graceful Fontanini crèche was a wedding gift. Hopefully someday we can add a few more figures to it. I especially love Mary's pose here, and like the rustic look of the stable.
The story behind this beautiful Willow Tree scene: a few Christmas' ago, M realized that he had gotten me... nothing. I had several presents for him and C, but since he was so used to me doing the gift-giving for everyone, it didn't even cross his mind as we loaded the gifts into the Suburban to go back to see our families. He ran out and got this the day after Christmas and then tried to "surprise" me with it, as if I wouldn't realize he'd just bought it hours before! Thinking about that makes me laugh, and I know that even without any gifts from him, ever (it's likely he'll forget again...), it doesn't matter, because he gives everything to his family everyday, just like the Joseph in this set.
I rarely include zoomed-out photos of things in my home, but I'm so pleased at how my cabinet looks! I like how it metaphorically keeps the Holy Family at the top of the season, and the Cross at the center of everything. (Ignore the flash/reflections-- I couldn't get good light in the morning inside)
I've gushed about this Little People set before, but I think it's too precious! It's perfect for teaching little ones about the birth of Christ. We have another backdrop somewhere, but I think I stuck it back in the attic on accident. There's another part, too, that we don't own-- the innkeeper and his inn. Maybe next year we'll expand it. C and H play with these people year-round, but the stable and setting only come out during Advent, so I can use it as a teaching tool throughout the year and have it still be special at Christmas! It also makes for humorous scenes (The Wise Men in a plane, for instance). When you push the button at the top (the angel is perched on this), it plays "Away in a Manger."
My mother-in-law gave this sweet set to the kids last year. I like how all of the figures are stored in the stable, which then buttons shut and looks too cute for words. If you push the top, you'll hear the verse about the shepherds keeping watch, then plays "Jesus Loves the Little Children" and "He's Got the Whole World." I may take the batteries out soon...
I saved the best for last! This was my family's Nativity set when I was growing up. My dad's aunt made it and I adored it as a child (ok, and as an adult). I would set up the stable and the tree and then place everyone else in other parts of the living room/kitchen. As each day passed, Mary and Joseph (minus baby Jesus, who was hiding behind the stable) would get closer and closer. The shepherds hung out in the nearby "field" (television stand) and the wise men were wayyyyyyyyy on the other side of the room, taking turns riding the camel. It was so fun on Christmas to finally put Jesus in the stable, and then have the wise men cruise on in on the Epiphany! C and I set it up this year, but she insisted that the Joseph figure couldn't be Joseph, because "he has crazy hair." Hopefully crazy hair doesn't put you out of the running for holiness, because if so, then C's morning hair will definitely disqualify her.
