Our Christmas Decorations

Many German families own nativity scenes that have often been in their families for several generations and have been passed on to children and grandchildren.  Ours is at least 100 years old and it was made in Grulich, a town which now belongs to the Czech Republic. All the figures and  animals are carved from wood and the artists have used very vibrant colours. We open the huge box a few days before Christmas. The children are excited when they unwrap the figures they have not seen for a year. They enjoy arranging them around the buildings, having the three wise men with their wonderful animals coming from the left side and and all the shepherds and sheep coming from the right side. The buildings did not come with the figures. We found them on eBay last year,  it was the ideal setting. It shows the town of Bethlehem as an oriental place with lots of small towers and walls. There are cliffs and trees, a small pond and even a well. Everything has been made of wood.
The nativity scene will remain in our living room till the three wise men return to their foreign country after January 6th. Then everything will be wrapped up for another year.

Of course, it wouldn't be Christmas without a German feather tree trimmed in antique German ornaments!  We began collecting these 30 years ago and now try to buy at least one special ornament every year. 

---