O Little Town of Bethlehem . . .

A big part of our Christmas decorations is the Nativity Set

As much as I liked the tree when I was a child,

I think I was most fond of the Nativity Set.

I think, perhaps, because Grandma let me play with it!

Ours is hers

And is in our dining room

As was hers

Away In the Manger . . .

Mary and Joseph and an Angel

Watch over Baby Jesus

When I got the set, there was no stable

And there was no Mary

(time has a way of making things disappear)

While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks . . .

There was but one shepherd, the dog and a sheep

(It was fun  adding more shepherds and sheep -

for it doesn't say "The Shepherd" it says "Shepherds"!)

We Three Kings of Orient Are . . .

Two of the kings were missing

And there was only one camel

Ever!

I found the other two wise men

(and I know the one that was Grandmother's -- it's the one with a chip on it's nose --

I told you I liked to play with it)

I also felt that each wise man should have his own mode of transportation

And so I added two more camels.

They are laying down camels

While Grandma's stood up.

She got the set, I am sure, in the 50s

Perhaps it was Aunt Pearl who bought it

But every Christmas it was put out

And I was fascinated by it.

I'm sure that it was bought at the dime store

Several of the pieces are marked 29

I think the original set was 11 pieces plus the stable

It probably cost just over $4.00 brand new

Which wasn't all that expensive but wasn't cheap either!

The First Noel . . .

Grandmother's Nativity Set (plus)

I have a picture of the set at her house

Back in the 50s

(It may have been new which was why Aunt Pearl took a picture)

When we were first married,

I bought a German nativity set

Old, not antique but old

for it was pre World War II

(which would mean to me the 20s or early 30s)

I really liked the set but as we like one Christmas tree,

I like one nativity set,

so I just keep it stored

Last year, I gave it to Daughter Sarah

for it is the set she grew up with

(and she is the reason that the camel has a broken leg!)

A Nativity set has always been part of Christmas

And there has always been a Nativity set at Linderhof

since our first Christmas in 1988.