Nativity Collection

I have no quilty content today, but I have often said I would do a post of my Nativities--so this is it. I know many people have more sets than I, but I have put some limits on myself as to what I would include in my collection. With no boundaries, a collection can quickly get out of hand under my control (or the lack thereof).

My decision was to collect Nativities from other lands--preferably handcrafted. And even more specific is that I wanted them to be from countries my family or friends have visited. Some of them have been gifted to me by my family and friends when returning from travels. Others have been located through online stores, or through a bookstore here that carries a large selection of Nativities (many of them being international) every year at Christmas time. In fact, of the ones I have purchased, most came from this store on the after Christmas sales.

So without further ado--my International Nativities:

Cambodia--When my brother was a missionary in Thailand many years ago, they had to leave the country every 6 months or so to get their visa renewed. Cambodia and Viet Nam were the places he would have to go. This is quilled paper and was gifted to me by my younger daughter.

Mexico--My husband and I got together on a failed tour to Mexico with a performing group. We had paid for the trip, but didn't get farther than a border town--and never got our money back.

   Left: Bolivia--Some neighbors were missionaries there. Right: Peru--just couldn't resist this.

And apparently I really can't resist the Peruvian Nativities, because I now have three more! The one below, on the left, was added after Christmas in 2022, and the one on the right was added from the Nativity Market in 2023. I first justified these because my friend Lori, at Humble Quilts blog, has been to Peru a couple of times (that I know of). But now one of my grandsons has been there on a two-week service mission trip.

The following nativity, also from Peru, was purchased after Christmas in 2023. Sorry about the reflection from the glass shelf. You aren't seeing double.

Both of the nativities above are from Argentina--oldest son was a missionary near Buenos Aires. Left: He brought these figures home with him--(figures only. Stable was found at a local thrift store.)  They are very small. Even smaller is the wooden nativity on the right. I bought this in a local shop that specializes in "Fair Trade" items. In addition to these two, for Christmas in 2023 I received the nativity below, on the left, from a neighbor who recently returned from Argentina with her husband, where they were providing leadership for a mission there for three years. 

And on the right, above, is the one from New Zealand that my older sister brought me after she visited our cousin that was living there. Both of these above are carved from woods native to the respective countries. I'll have to try and find out what they are.

December of 2025, my neighbor who had gifted me the nativity on the left, above, brought me a smaller one that was made by the same craftsman in Argentina who had made that larger one. It is shown on the left. I should have taken a photo of them together.

  Left: Germany--my father and oldest daughter have been there, but I bought this Nativity in an antique mall.  Right: Austria--oldest daughter bought this for me when doing a semester abroad. Both of these nativities are beautifully hand carved.   They are each 4" to 4.5" tall.     

Above: Both from Kenya and made of soapstone. Silky smooth to the touch. I don't know anyone who has been there--I just can't resist the feel of the stone. It is therapeutic. Sometimes I just have to pet these. :)

Two more stone nativities added after my original post, the one on the left is springstone, from Zimbabwe. I purchased it after Christmas in 2022. Much of the carving is textured, so I don't pet this one. The one on the right is another one from Kenya made of soapstone. I purchased this in November 2023 at the Nativity Market. The roof of the dwelling comes off, and you can place the figures inside, but then it is too dark to see their vivid colors and designs.

Philippines: This was purchased at 90% off on an after Christmas sale a few years ago. It was hand carved. I have a sister-in-law whose parents (whom I knew before I knew their daughter, because they were friends with my parents) served as missionaries in the Philippines, and several friends in our community have served there over the years, as well. The proportions of this one are interesting. Mary and the donkey seem on a larger scale than Joseph and the baby. And as of August 2023, my older sister and her husband are serving as missionaries in the Philippines.

 

 Left: Iceland--Our sons got me this wool Nativity on a Spring break trip. Right: Mozambique--made of sandalwood. Smells so good, I couldn't resist it. Sometimes I just have to scratch and sniff. :)

Left: Ecuador--I don't know of anyone who has been there. But my fascination with miniatures won out--this is carved from a Tagua nut, and it is tiny. Right: Hawaii--My younger daughter brought this back to me after their family visited Hawaii. Though the gourd shaped holder is actually taller than the Tagua nut structure, the figures inside are very small.

Thailand--my brother was a missionary there for 2 years. Most of the nativities I see from Thailand are made of mixed metals with beads, and sometimes wood elements are added. I have a real weakness for them, judging by the number of nativities I have from this country.

Another from Thailand below. It was the first from Thailand that I purchased in 2020.

I am also a big fan of the nativity ornaments from Thailand. The variety is endless, but I only have my favorite two, shown below. Notice the cow, sheep and donkey dangling from the bottom of the one on the right.

I picked up a few nativities on our trips to Europe in 2024, but they were not necessarily from the countries I visited, with the exception of the first one. It is Delft Blue, and I purchased it in Amsterdam, on our way to Norway. It isn't handcrafted, like I prefer, but it was the only "native" nativity I could find in our only day to visit there.  

The two nativities above were purchased in France, though it turns out neither of them were made in France. The one on the left is much smaller than it appears--just a hair over 2". I found it at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, in Paris. It was made in Italy. My oldest spent a couple of weeks there with her sister-in-law's family, so it works.

The one on the right (3" high) was picked up at the Cathedrale Notre-Dame de Rouen (in other words, not from the famous one in Paris, but still an incredible place). Turns out it was made in Peru. Love those Peruvian nativities!

I have two of this puzzle-style nativity. The one on the right is from India--One of my nieces and her hubby lived there for a while after they were married. On the left is one from Columbia. I bought this at the Nativity Market in November of 2023. It is much smaller than the one from India. Don't know anyone who has been to Columbia, but it was my birthday outing, so I gave myself a free pass.

Ghana--A dear friend had this carved for me while she and her husband were on a combination Sabbatical and mission trip there.

Left: Guatemala--my parents and younger sister took a trip there.  But I ordered this online.  Right: Brazil--Our youngest son brought this from his mission on the southern tip of Brazil. The figures are from banana leaves and the shelter is corrugated cardboard.

In December of 2024, after Christmas, when the nativities in a local store were marked 90% off, I couldn't resist adding another one from Guatemala to my collection. I wasn't going to, but the sales clerk, whom I have known for decades, practically twisted my arm. I'm glad she did. This is a bright, happy nativity. The horns and ears on the cow remove for storage. Love that cow!

Above Left: Brazil--Also brought home by our youngest son from his mission. Notice how the figures nest. Joseph is quite tall. Right: Ireland--Hubby was a missionary there before we were married, and he returned twice with a performing group. This is Waterford Crystal. The company now outsources these, but I was able to find this set on eBay with the original Waterford hallmarks.

Israel--I don't know the exact origin, but it is made from olive wood and was a gift from a dear blog friend. My parents and my brother have visited the Holy Land. I used to think I would someday, too, but now I wonder.

This was added to the collection in 2022. Also of olive wood, this was crafted in Bethlehem from olive wood harvested in Jerusalem. Apparently they must prune the olive trees every two years so they will bear fruit, and the prunings are used in many crafts such as this. I love the gorgeous grain of the olive wood. 

The last of the International Nativities is my German Pyramid. This is a family favorite. Whenever we gather during the Christmas season, the candles are lit and we enjoy the four, candle-powered, rotating scenes. Again, my father and my oldest daughter have each traveled to Germany, and I have  German heritage on my father's side.

I have five or six other non-international Nativities, and of those I will just share this one. Many of you will recognize it as the Willow Tree collection. It was my first Nativity set that I hadn't painted myself (I used to paint a lot of ceramics).

This is what Christmas is about to me. I love the season of remembering and celebrating the love of our Savior. Whatever your Christmas celebration is like--if you celebrate, I hope it is a day of peace and joy for you (and I am praying for all of those in the path of extreme weather). From our house to yours, Merry Christmas!

Janet O.

(Yes, hubby and I put up all those lights ourselves every year--there are more on the side you can't see here. I keep waiting for him to say we are getting too old, but until then, I will continue to bask in the glow.) 

Oh, almost forgot! A few years ago I posted a link to a version of the song "Mary, Did You Know?" Recently I came across a YouTube of Voctave performing the song, with the lead vocals by the man who wrote the lyric to the song. The vocals in this are so pure, and the joy on the face of Mark Lowry is really touching. Give it a look.