According to legend, the tradition of displaying a crèche (a depiction of the Nativity scene) at Christmas was begun, or at least popularized, by St. Francis of Assisi in 13th Century Italy. While visiting the village of Grecio at Christmas, St. Francis wanted to recreate the sense of awe and wonder he felt when he visited the site of Jesus’ birth in the Holy Land, and so St. Francis created a “living Nativity” in a cave outside the town. The practice became popular throughout Italy and quickly spread. To this day Nativity scenes are a visible reminder of the humble birth of our Savior.
Since we can’t be together this year, no holiday open houses or Christmas parties, we invited parishioners to send in photos of their home nativity scenes to share with everyone.
(Click on a thumbnail to view the photo and accompanying caption)
At St. Alban’s we display a crèche in the sanctuary (during the Christmas season through the Epiphany) made up of carved, wooden figures. There is an interesting story behind the St. Alban’s creche. Mrs. Christina Heimlich, whom most of our long-time parishioners remember for her school of dance at St. Alban’s, died in 2012. Lisa Filipy, who took over Mrs. Heimlich’s dance school, gave St. Alban’s the wooden Nativity scene with this letter: “These nativity figurines were a treasured display at the home of Col. William F. Heimlich and his wife Christina Heimlich. I spoke with Mrs. Heimlich’s nephew, Eric Leutiger, and he said he remembers them at the home of his grandparents, Mrs. Heimlich’s parents, Margaret and George Otto, when they lived on Heinzel Strasse, in Goelitz, Germany. My belief is that these figurines are over 85 years old. The story Mr. Heimlich told me was that the gentleman who played Jesus in the Passion Play at Oberammergau carved them. Mrs. Heimlich left them to me in her will, but I would like to give them to St. Alban’s to share their beauty and reverence with all of you. St. Alban’s was such a big part of Mr. and Mrs. Heimlich’s lives, and continues to be in mine as well.” Fr. Jeff did a little research and found this quote from an article in Time magazine dated May 12, 1930. Given the dates and circumstances of our Nativity scene it’s quite possible that our mysterious woodcarver is Alois Lang, the woodcarver and actor who portrayed Jesus in the 1930 Passion Play in Oberammergau. According to the article I read: “Alois is tall, robust, 38. In 1922 he lost the election to play Jesus by only a few votes, thereafter understudied Anton Lang. He is elegantly mannered, confident, magnetic. He keeps 40 hives of bees, likes to smoke and drink beer with the Apostles at the Hotel Alte Post. He carves innumerable wooden Christs, and exhibits no false modesty about his exalted position in the Passion Play. No one is happier in Oberammergau than his stout, simple wife, who might easily be mistaken for his mother. Some villagers will tell you that the hair of Alois Lang owes its luxuriant curliness to a permanent wave.”
This Nativity scene belonged to my grandmother and is over 50 years old. My grandmother’s favorite holiday is Christmas and she took great pleasure in decorating her home for the season. This Nativity scene was one of favorite decorations and her and i would set up the scene together was I was very young. When I moved away for the first time in my 20’s, she gave me this Nativity scene because she knew how much I loved it and it was a way to remind me of the Christmases I had when I was a child. Now that my grandmother is 100 years old and I can’t see her this holiday season, this scene is even more special. Adam and Nick
The core of this nativity was a wedding present from my college roommate, and the girls have added their own creatures. Samara rearranges it most every evening. Sarah T.
Crêche from Paris and Provençal drummer boy, with angels and animals from the United Kingdom and Bolivia. Helen C. and Duncan M.
All the way from Abu Dhabi!
A crèche bought in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico in 1970. George and Penny D.
This crèche is an African one, bought in Zimbabwe. George and Penny D.
A traditional family crèche passed down thru the family. George and Penny D.
Bought in San Diego, but made in Peru! Elissa R.
I poured, cleaned, and fired our ceramic nativity, 1965-1966 at Fort Ord California. The cat Sammy did some damage to a few pieces. Steve was stationed at the Naval Post Graduate School. Sally S.
Ed’s parents got these figures for us at a craft show, picking the colors for the Wise Men and camels. His father made the stable. Fran W.
My (Karen’s) cousin (who was like a brother to me) gave me this nativity set. Since he is no longer with us, it has become even more special to me over the years. Karen and Rick W.
My dad made the stable and the figures. Cathlene W.
A story book, “The Littlest Angel” was given to me for Christmas when I was 6 or 7. The plot revolves around a little angel who can’t get his star shiny enough to be useful to help people find their way. It turns out that his star was the one that lit the way to Bethlehem. The book included a paper manger scene and you can see the tiny angel peeking in the stable window. My mother used to set this up on top of the piano, with the result that whenever you played the piano, the paper people fell over. Mom would then use a choice non-church expletive, “s***!” and set the thing up again. (She never said “d***!” because she considered it blasphemy.) This year, I decided to set up all the Christmas decorations I could find, since I won’t have visits to or from faraway relatives to prepare for. I have had similar challenges getting the pieces to stay up, but rearranging them gives me a chance to reflect on the Nativity and the joy of Christmas, and to remember Christmases past. Betsy A.
It’s from Poland to support needy families and you can read all about it at https://elimcenter.pl/nativity-project/ Debra and Charles B.
This is our outdoor scene. This nativity is one of our favorite Christmas decorations. Several years ago, we started using it as a decoration for the bazaar. Bill and Nancy C.
This is our indoor creche. This nativity was given to me as a birthday gift by my hubby and it’s about the best gift ever! Nancy and Bill C.
This photo is of our nativity. Each year my grandmother would buy us one of the pieces. The year she passed away the collection was discontinued so Lee and I spent the Christmas season going to every Macy store in the area buying up as many pieces we could find. The set reminds of my grandparents and that Christmas season where we were on the hunt to finish the collection. Kristi P and Lee H
This was made with my nephew David when he was about 9. We made other ornaments, but he asked to make this. Behold the power of the popsicle stick. Nancy H.
This is our crèche scene that we got in Côte d’Ivoire. It is one of our favorite Christmas memories. Jane and Fritz G.
I like to remember Christmas 2019 when Carleton, Jack, Declan, and I made a great Bethlehem in blocks with these figures. Ann G.
Our creche has evolved… and the sheep and lambs have multiplied over the years… and proportion is not important… Joyce A.
My mother bought this Italian nativity scene the Christmas after my father died in 1979. She didn’t say it, but I thought of it as my Dad’s Christmas gift to her. Now they’re both gone, and it reminds me how they both gave thoughtful gifts. Linda C.
This is special because the figures were the ones I grew up with and the manger was built and painted by a dear friend.(His name is Paul, too.🙂) The wise men and a camel are across the room, and the baby Jesus is in the drawer below the manger. Debbie R.
This nativity set was made for Dave’s mother by her sister. Wendy and Dave H.
This is our family creche, purchased while we lived in Spain back in early 1960’s (where I was born). It was always my favorite Christmas decoration to put up at my Mom’s (Nancy Gamber’s) house. When she came to live with us 7 years ago, I continued to enjoy setting it up. It’s a gorgeous hand carved wood set. It is definitely a cherished family heirloom that I’m sure my boys will fight over one day. 🙂 Ann G.
