Cover
Story
EPIPHANY: ARRIVAL OF THE MAGI
The cover scene of the arrival of the Magi, created by Juan Giner Pastor, current president of the Asociaci6n de Belenistas deAlicante (Spain), won first place in the VIII <;ompetition, "Image ofthe Nativity 2003" sponsored by the Spanish Federation ofBelenistas. Figures are of terra cotta, and range in height from 15 to 20 cm (about 6 to 8 inches). They were crafted by Martin Castells ofBarcelona. According to Giner Pastor, Castells, who died in 1995, was one ofthe most important Spanish Belen figure makers of the twentieth century.
Juan Giner Pastor is an award winning Master Belenista. In Spain, the individual who creates the diorama usually is a different individual from the one who crafts the scene's figures. Giner Pastor is an accomplished creator ofNativity scenes, and we present here a little of his background.
Juan Giner Pastor loved the Nativity even as a child. When the Asociaci6n de Belenistas de Alicante was formed in 1959, he immediately joined At age 15 , he won his first prize ina competition sponsored by the Association. Between 1964 and 1971 , he won first prize each year. For three years, between 1969 and 1971, he won first prize in the province-wide Belen contest.
He was among the first to be designated a Master Belenista when that category was created by the Alicante Association in 196 9, and also received the Association ' s gold medal. In 1981 he was honored by the Spanish Federation ofBelenistas. He also has won numerous first prizes in creche competitions throughout Spain.
He is the author of several books, including El Belen and El Belenismo in Alicante, many articles and numerou~ audiovisual presentations Giner Pastor edits the Alicante Association's magazine, Epifania, as well as the Spanish Federation ' s magazine, Anunciata. His work has been exhibited throughout Spain and in several European countries . After serving on the governing board of the Alicante Association and as its secretary, in 1994, he was elected president-a position he has held since then.
In 2000 , at the 16 th International Creche Congress inPamplona, Spain, Giner Pastor was honored by the Universalis Foederatio Praesepistica, the International Creche Federation.
Dear Readers,
Those of us lucky enough to have attended the extraordinary Friends ofthe Creche convention in Hyannis, Massachusetts, recall with great pleasure the pageantry, glorious floral creches , and the fascinating speakers. It also was a wonderful time to renew friendships, meet new friends , and relive the 2002 Advent Markets trip to Bamberg, Germany , with nearly all my fellow travelers
We have received a nice response to the Creche Herald Photo Contest. Photos were beautiful, and reflected a wide diversity of wonderful Nativity scenes, some of which you own , or some of which you have seen. The photos have been turned over to the Antonelli Institute of Art and Photography . We should have results by the summer edition. One of the judges is Janelle Nein who wrote the two newsletter articles on photography in 2003.
In the middle of this issue, you will see a custom travel package to Europe The trip is designed to wrap around the International Creche Congress in Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic, in September 2004. Starting in Munich , Germany, the tour takes a scenic route to Prague, and then to the convention city.
For those who want to join us on the trip, but not attend the Congress, you will have about four days on your own .
For those who want to go on the trip and attend the Congress, you will note that costs for the Congress hotel and registration are extra, and must be handled on your own.
The trip will be a great way to see creche sites as well as other highlights with an experienced and knowledgeable tour director, David Harper. Harper lives in Europe and is very familiar with the stops included. The travel agency we are using, Higgins Travel in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, is the same one we used for the Bamberg, Germany, trip-a highly reliable organization.
Looking forward to seeing you in the Fall.
Rita Bacher, Publisher
Creche Herald
Editor/publisher: Rita B. Bocher
Contributing editor: Mary B. Herzel
Communications: Frank B. Herzel
117 Crosshill Road, Wynnewood, PA 19096-3511 U.S.A.
Web page: www.op.net/- bocassoc/ E-mail: crecher@op.net
Printed by Saint Joseph's University Press, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Offering A Collection to Church Museum
By Martha Spencer Rogers
Although I didn't acknowledge it at the time , I first began collecting creches while living in La Paz, Bolivia, in the mid I 960s During our two and a half years there, I shared Christmas celebrating with Bolivians of all walks of life I owned only one Nativity set of olive wood that my parents had brought from the Holy Land
Christmas for my Bolivian friends revolved around Nativities My nearest neighbor literally cleared all the furniture from a bedroom, and had an enormous scene of travelers climbing a mountain up one side of the room to arrive at the manger . I also visited the markets to see various handmade creches. By the time we returned to the United States in 1967 , I had acquired thirteen
My sister, Jay Bullock, who always had enjoyed collecting, said, "Anyone with thirteen Nativity sets had better admit to collecting them " I didn't, of course I was just intrigued by South American customs.
But, at the after-Christmas sale that year, I bought a wonderful, brightly painted, handmade set from Denmark. That was it. I have been collecting ever since When our church , originally built in 1890, added a new educational wing, I decided to offer part of my collection.
In November 2003, Rogers gave 100 of her Nativities representing 76 countries to the Westminster Presbyterian Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota. She also gifted custom built display ca ses. Known as The Martha Spencer Rogers Cre che Collection , the sets are permanently installed in the new educational wing of the church.
A Healer of Broken Treasures
The beautiful five-inch high Madonna in the Nativity made for me by an artist friend had lost the tiny thumb of her gracefully extended hand. I inadvertently had damaged the exquisite sculpture during a photo shoot. While I tried to ignore the nearly invisible loss , every time I looked at her, my eyes were drawn to the place of the missing appendage Finally, I decided to seek the services of James Appleman , who claims-and I have since become a believer-that he can work miracles with all manner of damaged sculptures and figures . Appleman does gold leafing , and restores historic artifacts and Christmas mangers He is a healer in the world of cracked angels , footless saints , and chipped virgins.
In 1982 , Appleman, who is a lay Franciscan monk , claims he experienced a life changing vision He says that in a dream he saw a shining man in a white robe who held art brushes in his hands Then those same brushes appeared in his own hands . The dream was so real that Appleman marvels, "I knew it was a message from heaven "
Up to that time , Appleman had been primarily a fine furniture restorer. When, two weeks later , totally unexpectedly , the pastor of his church asked him to restore some damaged Nativity statues , Appleman became convinced his new calling was divinely ordained The creche contained 24 plaster figures and took him about a year and a half to restore
Since that time , he has applied his skills to religious statuary and historic figures Appleman carefully analyzes the damage sustained, determining whether cracks can be filled in, whether new body parts are needed , or whether it is only the coloring that needs retouching. Much of his work has been done for churches and collectors.
In his spare time, Appleman volunteers for visits to hospitals and nursing homes. He usually is accompanied by his wheaten terrier , Brutis, who is a constant companion in the home studio
For my little Madonna, Appleman used his fine dentist ' s drills to insert a minuscule steel pin into her palm, and molded a perfect thumb over that. Then he carefully matched the coloring with the rest of the hand . "You can ' t just attach a thumb," he explained patiently when I had asked if I could wait for what seemed such a teeny tiny repair . "You have to add the piece so it won ' t fall off and will seem just like the rest of her hand. You also have to make sure the color matches perfectly and the whole repair disappears."
So now, Mary looks as good as new , and probably not even the artist who created her would be able to detect the new thumb on her left hand
James D . Appleman can be reached at 1742 N . Blair Street, Philadelphia, PA 19125 215-868-5638 Email : peggyapp @ msn com. RBB
Her hair flowing , Mary rests , while Joseph sits clo se by. An original Briercrofl Nativity made of wax before the company adopted resin as a medium. Colle ction of Martha Spencer Rogers , Minneapolis, Minnesota
FRIENDS OF THE CRECHE NOTES
Dear Friends of the Cree he,
Some months later, the spirit of Creches By The Sea still fills many ofus with enthusiasm. I'm sorry not all of you could have been in Hyannis. As not everyone can travel to our gatherings, we hope the special convention report gave you a sense of the wonderful experience we enjoyed.
For those of you unable to travel, we hope to engage you not only through the Creche Herald subscription, but through other special mailings. We also recently mailed you a summary report of findings of the initial phase of the Church Creche Survey. I thank the many of you who have participated in this effort to date. We hope eventually to broaden our efforts to undertake a long term study of the history of the creche tradition in the United States
You also have received the new membership directory, the interactive children's bibliography, a new edition of the permanent exhibit guide , and additions to the general bibliography. We hope to have additional special mailings in the future .
In 2004 , our focus will be on several items. One, we give much priority to establishing a permanent website. In the November Board of Directors meeting, I appointed a committee to seek and review proposals. In the meantime, the convention website, Crechesbythesea.org will remain on the internet a while longer.
Two , we look forward to our Annual Members Meeting, October 30, 2004 , in Pomona, California. Three, we have begun planning for our next annual convention in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in 2005. Four, our research and publications committee will explore the possibility of preparing information on creche topics to be issued as special mailings. In terms of organization, we look forward to our annual election for Board seats. The Board of Directors also will review the current Bylaws in order to improve operations I also remind you that in 2004 there will be an international congress of creche societies, sponsored by the International CrecheFederation, of which we are a member. This year's event will be September 23-26 in Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic . The city is not far from Prague. All of our members are eligible to attend. So, if you plan overseas travel this year, you might want to think about attending. Further information is found on page 6.
Jim Govan, President (JimGovan@aol.com)
ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
Saturday, October 30, 2004
Conference Center at Cal Poly University Pomona, California
With the theme, " The Creche, Not for Christmas Only, " cochairs Patricia Barrett and Wendy Reynoso plan an exciting annual meeting. The primary speaker will be well-known folklorist Mary MacGregor Villareal. She will share her more than 30 years of experience and research into the nacimientos of Los Angeles-a Mexican/Hispanic tradition of preparing both indoor and outdoor nacimientos on a grand scale. This presentation will be followed by the annual meeting where members may voice their thoughts and ideas for the future of Friends of the Creche.
A barbecue lunch, freshly prepared in the Conference Center Plaza, will be offered for $10. After lunch, speakers will discuss the art of collecting Museum-quality Nativities will be on display throughout the day. A nominal registration fee of $15 will be charged, and will include light refreshments
Pomona is about 30 miles east of Los Angeles; it is served by three airports: Ontario; Burbank, and Los Angeles. The Shiloh Inn, Pomona, is offering a special rate of $72 per night. That includes complimentary airport shuttles to and from Ontario Airport, and to and from the Conference Center, and a complimentary American breakfast buffet.
Additional information is available from Judy Davis: 510-237-4885; judydavis12@comcast.net. Watch for further details in the Summer Creche Herald and in an August members' mailing
ATTENTION MEMBERS:
Are you interested in running for a position on the Board of Directors? Do you know a person you would like to see as a member of the Board?
Look for more information about nominations in the summer edition of Creche Herald. For questions, contact John Musser, 5715--82nd Street, Kenosha, WI 53142 or musserjd@wi.rr com.
Friends of the Creche Honors Two at Convention by
Jim Govan , President , Friends of the Creche
Friends of the Creche seeks to honor individuals who have made important contributions to promoting the tradition of the Creche We grant an Award of Recognition at our biennial conventions to those individuals . Nominations are open to the membership. A Board committee and the full Board make the final selections. At the 2003 Convention, we were pleased to grant the Award of Recognition to two individuals from among several most worthy candidates
We honored Judith Fosher for her dedicated effort in creating a major annual exhibit of creches in Manchester , New Hampshire She is the founding director of the Diocesan Museum of the Catholic Diocese. In that capacity, she has created an annual creche exhibit which has gained regional recognition. Tour buses , groups, and school children make the exhibit a special destination Our award is one of several received by Ms. Fosher for her Museum work.
The second honoree was Michel Forest, a Canadian artist , former Artistic Director of the Saint Joseph Oratory Museum ' s creche collection in Montreal, and current director of artistic presentation of Nativities for the Marian Library , University of Dayton, Ohio . For both institutions, he has built settings for both annual and permanent exposition . His technical and artistic skills have created a deeper context for the message of the creche. He also has created creches His work has enhanced the beauty and reputation of the large collections of both the Saint Joseph Oratory and the Marian Library.
Distinctive Nativity tie tack
Solid Sterling Silver hand finished
Beautifully gift boxed $24.95 plus $2 s/h
Enlarged to show detail.
size:
cm Based upon a design by Michael Stwnpf especially for Creche Herald. Creche Herald 117 Crosshill Rd . Wynnewood , PA 19096-3511 USA
Creche Hunting... in New York City and Greenwich, Connecticut by Eileen C anty
We traveled to New York for the December 7th opening of the first annual College of New Rochelle ' s Kate Canty Creche Collection exhibit. Unfortunately, so did two massive snowstorms . The opening was delayed for a few days, but our secondary purpose , creche hunting, was less impacted Admittedly, our fingers did more walking than our feet as I canvassed 50 or more shops by phone , hoping to add to old favorites My goal was to locate shops that carried creches year round as well as seasonally
We stayed near Columbia University, a convenient hub for three dependable creche sources. The first is the Cathedral Shop of Saint John the Divine, 104 7 Amsterdam Avenue (at 112th Street), NY, NY 10025 , 212-222-7200 Recovery from a fire in the gift shop two years ago has been slow , but their selection is slowly returning . The most unusual set this time was a six piece, unpainted , carved set from Thailand with affixed silver crowns and halos ($70)
Riverside Church, 490 Riverside Drive , NY, NY 10027 , 212-870-6792 , has been upgrading its creche inventory They have several sizes and styles of raku pottery sets from South Africa, ebony from Tanzania, ceramic from Hungary , and like all the other shops I visited, a wide variety from Venezuela I particularly liked some of the small fused glass sets from Venezuela ($20).
On the other side of Central Park , the shop at El Meseo Del Barrio, 1230 Fifth Avenue, NY , NY 10029 , 212-831-7272 , x 130, stocks just a few Nativity items but what they have is usually unique . My eye was caught by an 18-inch enameled Holy Family in a diptych from Venezuela ($200).
I felt I had caught the golden ring with two new discoveries. The first is the bookstore at the Church of Saint Paul the Apostle, 405 West 59 th Street, NY, NY 10019 , 212315-0918. Their selection is impressive: sets from the nuns of the Bethlehem convent in France; bronzes from Maria Laach Monastery in Germany (3-piece set : $190 ; small plaque: $40), olive wood from Bethlehem ($250) , and an unusual set from Venezuela of a primitive unclad Holy Family adorned with feathers in their hair ($40).
The second is Christ Church Bookstore , 254 East Putnam Avenue, Greenwich, CT 06830 , 203-869-9030. They carry Hestia figures as well as a good selection from other countries , such as Russia , Peru, Cameroon, Poland , and the wonderful Pugh line from Spain.
I located only two ethnic stores with Nativities : African Paradise, 27 West 125 th Street, NY , NY 10027 , 212-4105294 and La Sirena , 27 East Third Street, NY, NY 10003 , 212-780-9113 which features Mexican and other Latin American folk art
Managers in all of the shops mentioned were personally interested in responding to telephone calls.
Collector Eileen Canty lives in Marion , Massachusetts .
WRAP A SPECIAL TRIP AROUND THE INTERNATIONAL CRECHE CONGRESS
Start your visit to the International Creche Congress in September 2004 a few days early with stops in Munich, Oberammergau, Berchtesgaden, Salzburg, southern Bohemia, and Prague. Trip limited to 30 persons
Here is the itinerary for the add-on trip :
September 16: Depart USA
September 17: Arrive Munich airport late morning. Transfer to Munich with free time for snack in downtown Munich. Early afternoon visit to creche collection at Bavarian State Museum. At 5 p m , transfer to hotel in Ettal.
September 18: Visit private creche church collections. Visit to Oberammergau, capital of German woodcarved creches. Overnight Ettal.
September 19 : After breakfast, continue on to Berchtesgaden. Visit a maker of very original miniature creches in wooden boxes. Tour beautiful Berchtesgaden area with free time for shopping City is 2nd center of woodcarving in Germany. Overnight Berchtesgaden
September 20 : After breakfast, half-day trip to Salzburg with stops at Sound of Music sites. Free time for shopping. In afternoon , enjoy a scenic boat cruise on Lake Konigssee (the King's Lake) into the heart ofBerchtesgaden National Park. Overnight Berchtesgaden.
September 21: After breakfast, depart for Steyr, Austria, known as Christkindl town, to visit creche collections. Mid afternoon continue on to Ceske Budejovice in southern Bohemia. Overnight Ceske Budejovice.
September 22: After breakfast, depart for Prague. Guided city tour followed by free time. Late afternoon transfer to Hradec Kralove and the International Creche Congress.
September 22-26 : International Creche Congress. On your own.
September 27 : Morning transfer from Hotel Amber Cernigov, Hradec Kralove to Prague airport. Depart for USA.
Included in land package: 5 nights in superior comfort to first class hotels; 5 buffet breakfasts; 5 dinners of regional specialties (excluding beverages); I welcome drink; beer or wine with last tour meal; 6 days of first class tour bus transportation starting at Munich airport and ending at Hradec Kralove ; 6 days of tour management and services; all admission fees per itinerary ; luggage service at airport and hotels; tips for restaurant , hotel staff and bus driver. Transfer from Hradec Kralove to Prague airport.
Land tour only, excluding period of Congress: $1364 (If single land only, add $75)
Round trip air via Lufthansa from JFK airport in New York to Munich, Germany and return from Prague, Czech Republic: Total for land tour (excluding period of Congress) and round trip air fare:
Double: $1987
Single: $2187
Optional trip cancellation and comprehensive travel insurance is available at $140 per person.
NOTE: In the event the Euro moves above 1.30 EUR/USD, a surcharge may be assessed.
Please notice also that no International Creche Congress related costs are included, such as hotel on nights of September 22, 23, 24, 25, 26; meals during period of Congress, and Congress registration.
To reserve a spot: Send $300 by check or credit card to
Higgins Travel & Cruise Center 2514 Golf Road
Eau Claire, WI 54701
Tel: 800-274- 7790
Fax: 715-834-2160 Email: joan@higginstravel.com
Reservations close June 1, 2004. Final payment due July 14, 2004. The following cancellation policy applies: $50 penalty until May 31, 2004; from June I-July 13-$300 per person penalty plus insurance if purchased ; from July 14 to August 2-$300 per person plus insurance if purchased, plus the cost of airfare and any other prepaid items After August 2, no refunds .
TOUR
From Our Readers:
In the Winter 2003/04 issue , I was interested in the story of the Santo Bambino. According to one source I read, the statue was once taken by a woman who kept it in her house for some six years before confessing her crime on her deathbed The story goes that as she was dying, the statue walked back to the church of Aracoeli and announced its arrival by playing the church bells. Letters addressed to the Babe are placed at his feet , but never opened by the monks in the church . After a certain period, the letters are burned, their private messages reserved for Jesus alone.
Milan Zabransky, Prague, Czech Republic
***
It is always a " red letter day" when the Creche Herald arrives. I really do enjoy it, and I especially appreciate the front cover picture with explanation Many thanks. Julie McFerran, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
***
I was looking through my Nativity files, and in the Winter 1998 Creche Herald, there was an article about the initials " C.M.B." The article stated that the letters referred to the Wise Men : Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar. Recently, on the internet , I found an article stating that the letters C.M.B. combined with the year (e.g. 20 + C + M + B+ 04) written above door posts really stand for the words , " Christus mansionem benedicat, Latin for "May Christ bless this house."
Judy Davis, El Cerrito, California
(Editor's Note: If readers have read or heard of other meanings for the letters C.MB., let us know.)
***
I made the original " Becoming Nativity'' sculpture from earthenware clay during a hermitage retreat in West Virginia. On that beautiful autumn day, my prayer was focused on the time before Christ's birth, imagining Mary and Joseph ' s anticipation. As I worked with the clay, the two figures joined into a single form and their gaze was directed toward a gentle oval emptiness This became for me the prayer of Advent waiting. Later, I formed the Christ Child who could then be added to the sculpture "in the fullness of time ."
I frequently use clay as a vehicle for prayer, and have been privileged to lead others in this contemplative activity through my ministry at Our Lady of Lourdes Wellness Center in Collingswood, New Jersey
Marianne Hieb, R .S.M., Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
CRECHE HERALD NEWSMAKERS
Judy Davis, El Cerrito , California, exhibited her creches to raise money for her church . A front page story appeared in West Coast Weekly and Oakland Tribune.
Gary Grabowski, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and his exhibit that raised money for a local food bank were covered by the Pittsburgh Catholic.
Catherine Rehfeldt, Des Moines, Iowa, and her collection were featured in the Des Moines Register.
A creation by artist Jil Gurule , Alameda, New Mexico, adorned the front cover of Feliz Navidad, a special supplement of The Santa Fe New Mexican.
Eileen Canty, Marion, Massachusetts, was featured by The Cape Codder as part of the coverage for the Creches By The Sea convention
The creche Benito Santivaiiez and his mother created for Saint Martin Parish, Sunnyvale, California, can be viewed in the parish photos on www.smpsv.com.
Creche Herald subscription information
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Enclose check or money order payable to Creche Herald. Mail to: Creche Herald, 117 Crosshill Road Wynnewood, PA 19096-3511 U.S.A.
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Celebrating the Season
Diane Houk, Independence, Missouri, exhibited 30 creches at the Nativities F es tival of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Kansas City. Proceeds benefitted the church
"Becoming Nativity" is one of the Enc ire lings series of meditative sculptures created during retreats , and available in limited production by Sister Marianne Hieb , hiebm@lourdesnet.org
"Uncle Bill" Fulfills Special Request
by Mary Herze l
To say that Bill Hendel , West Falmouth, Massachusetts , has a passion for flowers and creches is an understatement. He had spent many months getting other florists to join him for the distinctive exhibits at the 2003 Creches By The Sea convention in Hyannis , Massachusetts. " Christmas for me has a deep spiritual meaning," said Hendel.
Though the convention was early November, the dramatic designs captured the holiday spirit. Spectacular floral pieces lined the lobby and entrance hall. "The creches show a cultural diversity and a unique way of celebrating the birth of Christ," he said " I tried to have the flowers highlight the difference in religious expression ."
Hendel ' s fascination with creches began as a child "When I was young , my family didn ' t own a manger scene, so I used pennies from a paper route and returned soda bottles to buy figures at Woolworth ' s ," he remembered . " Over the years , I bought other pieces one at a time , paying less than a dollar for each until I had a complete set. " However , his serious collecting began while serving in the United States Army in Oberammergau, Germany , famous for its woodcarvers. " There I bought a 26-piece hand carved set worth $3000. It is still my favorite ," he said . " One of the best things that happened to me after leaving the army was a job as an apprentice to a floral designer," Hendel admits . With that training , he moved on to start Uncle Bil/ 's Country Store with a partner. For thirty years , he managed under one roof, a flower , antique , and Christmas shop. He filled his store and home with creches and Christmas ornaments
Two of his favorite customers always were looking for unique creches One was the late Anne Austil. " She was an ev angelist in reference to Nativities Her favorite expression was ' God loves variety ."'
His other favorite creche customer was Father Tim Goldrick , for a while , the priest at his local parish church . " He ' d always be looking for something rare for his home or the exhibit at his church ."
Two years ago , Father Tim approached him for the 2003 convention . "Father Tim was looking to complement colorful creches with non-Christm a s flowers . Who could resist such a challenge ?" With that , Hendel went to seven florist friends asking if they would be willing to participate Their response came in the form of thirteen breathtaking flower and creche arrangements at the convention hotel.
When the conv ention was ov er , Hendel , as he had done for the past twenty-sev en y ears , went home to arrange a creche exhibit in his elegant Victorian home
M ary Herz el liv es in Harris burg, P ennsylv ania
One of the floral creche di splays at the 20 0 3 Friend s of the Creche convention in Hya nni s, Ma ssachu sett s.
This 7-piece fabric / bean s plu sh se t by R oman , In c. include s the Hol y Fa mil y, ang el, sheep , d onkey and car ryin g case d oubling as a stable $40 To order: 1-800-729 -766 2
???? and comments
Q. I have recently become interested in creches, and a question comes to mind. Some months ago, there were a lot of stories in the news about a judge ordering a monument of the Ten Commandments to be removed from its prominent public site. If it had been a creche instead of the Ten Commandments at that site, would the same removal order be applicable? Wil Marcus, Walnut Creek, California
A. Probably the same removal order would be given, although the law is not entirely clear.
Based upon a decision by the United States Supreme Court in Lynch v. Donnelly (465 U.S. 668, 1984), there may be Christmas religious displays in public areas so long as there are enough secular objects nearby to convey the idea of a secular display (sometimes referred to as "the three reindeer rule"). Later, in the case of the County of A//eghenyv. American Civil Liberties Union (492 U.S 573, 1989), the Supreme Court ruled that a creche could not be displayed inside a public building.
An Arizona-based legal group called the Alliance Defense Fund recently launched the Christmas Project "to combat senseless and reoccurring annual attempts to censor Christmas ." About 700 lawyers nationwide take complaints about possible yule infractions. According to the Christmas Project, a Christmas Nativity scene may be displayed in schools so long as there is a " clear educational reason" or " if it is displayed for legitimate secular purposes, such as to celebrate the holiday or to depict the origins ofthe holiday."
Reverend Barry Lynn, a lawyer who heads Americans United for Separation of Church and State, suggests that a safer path for municipalities to follow if they permit the display of a creche is to post signs disclaiming sponsorship or turn over the display to a citizen group.
In 2002 , the Thomas More Law Center, a national public interest law firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, filed a lawsuit concerning New York's public schools. At issue was New York's policy on religious displays. That policy prohibits public school displays of Christmas Nativity scenes during Christmas, while at the same time permitting displays of the Jewish Menorah and Islamic star and crescent during their respective holidays. At the hearing in Fall 2003, New York's legal briefs disputed the claim that the birth of Jesus was an historical fact. As of this writing, a decision is pending
Other Nativity related cases in Florida can be viewed at the Center's website: www.thomasmore .org
Cape Cod Creche Society Forms
Seventeen people attended the first meeting in early December 2003 of the Cape Cod Creche Society One of the group's major goals is to share a love of creches by sponsoring public displays during December. The group hopes to visit Nativity-related workshops and private collections during the year. Funds for a possible newsletter and other small expenses will be generated by raffles conducted during meetings rather than through membership dues Further information is available through Mary Fuller, 79 Puritan Road, Buzzards Bay, MA 02532. Email: fullerm.massed@rcn.com.
Remember to send the pictures from used greeting cards to Saint Jude's Ranch for Children
100 Saint Jude Street PO Box 60100 Boulder City, Nevada 89006-0100. The illustrations are used in craft activities by the children.
Nativity "stable" made from a roll by Mary Fuller, Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts. Larger Nativities are made from larger loaves of bread. Fuller notes that the word " Bethlehem" means "house of bread," and was her inspiration. She creates the background by hollowing out a loaf of uncut bread. The bread is then dried thoroughly, shellacked, and decorated with Spanish moss , tiny figures and other decorations. Nativities were shown at 2003 Friends of the Creche national convention at Hyannis , Massachusetts .
Missionaries Offer A Sacred Break to Cincinnati
" In all the secular chaos that has become part of the holidays, people really need to take an occasional spiritual break," counsels Father Dennis W. Conway, mccj And offering that reprieve to the people of Cincinnati is the goal of a 55-year-old tradition at the North American Provincial Headquarters of the Comboni Missionaries. Each year, the Missionaries host a room-sized, animated diorama of the Nativity.
When the creche above originally was created in 1947, a group of seminarians collected sand, stones, and moss to make the first Nativity display more realistic Some pieces of the current display date back to that time; others are newly added. So too, some of the audience has remained the same, now including children and grandchildren of those who saw the scene when it was new.
Czech Republic offers another view of Europe
The Czech Republic, established on January 1, 1993, is one of the newest nations in Eastern Europe, yet its history is centuries old. Its population in 1992 was estimated at about 10.4 million. A landlocked country, it is bounded by Germany, Austria, Poland, and Slovakia. Its Fall weather tends toward mild days and cool nights.
Geographically , the country is divided into three regions: Bohemia; Moravia, and Silesia. Hradec Kralove, the site of the International Creche Congress, is in Bohemia. An industrious people, the Czechs are known for the quality of their goods, fine crops, and world famous beer.
The first important historical Bohemian ruler, Wenceslas (c. 907-92 9) , is still celebrated in a Christmas carol. Its great composer, Antonin Dvorak (1841-1904 ), wrote his most popular work, Symphonyfrom the New World (1893) during a three-year stay in the United States, and author Franz Kafka (1883-1924) was one of the 20 th century's most influential writers
Doctor Vaclav Klaus is the country's current President.
Arrange Your Nativities with Creativity
Adapted from a talk by Maureen Miconi-Ross at the 2003 Friends ofthe Creche Convention, Hyannis, Massachusetts
You have everything in your heart that you need to be creative-a love of the creche and of the wonderful cultures of the world that depict His birth so gloriously differently. When displaying your sets , be faithful to the scene If your set is from Uganda in Africa, you won't surround Baby Jesus with fake snow. If your set is from Mexico , decorate with fabric or flowers that might be from Mexico.
Everything is a potential source of material for your arrangements. Like most people, I have a limited budget for my collectible~. So-bottom line is-I am a scout, a scrounge , a bargain shopper and a scavenger.
I find objects everywhere. Look outside . Nature is an inexhaustible warehouse for your supplies, and will help make your scene more realistic
Keep a plastic bag and clippers in the trunk of your car. You can make your own dried flowers from blossoms in your yard by tying them upside down with string in an outof-the-way place in your garage, basement or back porch. Sticks and stones, shells, beans, beads, seeds , and leaves are all just as useful as hay in a Nativity setting
Fabrics of all kinds are essential, and they can be taken from all kinds of sources like placemats, napkins, scarves, doilies, tablecloths, curtains, and ribbons. If you have a blouse that picks up exactly the color you want , you can drape that blouse under a stable-without the buttons showing-and voila! you have the perfect piece of fabric.
I've searched through kids ' toy boxes and used little toy animals in a scene; I've used old CD cases as display stands, coasters on which to stand figures, cheese boxes, napkin rings I haunt thrift stores for the offbeat.
Though symmetry is good in a mathematical world, it is not the way of a natural setting, and can be boring If possible, also put figures at different heights to add interest.
Color is such a gift. Many cultures use imaginative colors when making their expression of Jesus' birth Look at the colors in your creche Try to pick one or two on which to focus Remember your grade school color wheel? Maybe you might want to use side by side colors, such as blue, violet and green Don't be afraid of a pastel palate or one of vibrant tropical colors. Enjoy unlikely combinations.
I have a favorite creche that has been in our family for years. It is a cheap set, and not particularly beautiful, but it has great sentimental meaning I use some type of flower around the stable taken from my only sister's yard 600 miles away because she is not with us at Christmas. I pick the flowers in the spring when I visit her and preserve them until Christmas.
In summary, the basics you need are a floral and a fabric, a focus on the set and a faithfulness to the intent of the artisan Lastly, you need be fearless.
Maureen Miconi-Ross is an educational consultant, author and artist. She lives in North Attleboro, Massachusetts.
Agustin Cruz Tinoco, born in San Juan Oxolotepec, Oaxaca, carved this ship with the buxom lady as the masthead. Mary, garbed in a house dress, sits on the prow with the Babe across her lap. Joseph rows , and a "shepherd" stands protectively at the back On one side platform stand an angel and a King with his gift of a rooster; on the other, two Kings bring gifts of a pig and a turkey. All are dressed peasant style. Each figure is individually carved
Oaxacan carver Manuel Jimenez, a deeply religious man interviewed me to be sure I would provide a good home for his work; we even read the Bible together. Here , Mary, Joseph and the Magi are dressed traditionally , but the others vary. Jesus appears to be a small man, and the shepherd boy in Medieval garb carries a separately carved sheep. A large green animal might be a sheep; the kneeling red bull sports blue ears. Only the donkey looks " normal. "
Nacimientos Mexicanos Reflect the New and Old worlds
by Judith Davis
When Heman de Cortes and his fellow conquistadores set foot on the land now known as Mexico on Good Friday, April 22, 1519 , they found inhabitants with a culture totally different from their own The Spanish missionaries who followed wondered how best to present to the people the stories of the Bible, especially those about Jesus Christ.
The natives ' religious practices included much singing and dancing, and it was clear that children were central to their lives. So, the missionaries decided to preach the Gospel and teach the Nativity story in a local context and language Fray Pedro de Gante founded a school where he taught not only the singing of hymns, but also the making of figures and backgrounds for Nativity scenes that could be carried in holy day processions. Fray Bernardino de Sahagun wrote a book of canticles and hymns on the lives of Christ and the saints in the hope that the indigenous peoples would " . .. forget completely the old canticles that they made use of in the time of their heathenism. " Other missionaries of the l 6tll century wrote about the pese bres of Christmas night. It appears that the natives came to love the Christmas Child and His story as they did their own children .
The tradition of making Nativity scenes has continued through the centuries. Just as today's visitors to Mexico may see Aztec dances and other pre-Colombian rituals side by side with Christian holy day celebrations, so present day Nativity scenes are distinctive , personal creations clearly influenced not only by the maker's knowledge of Bible stories, but also by his or her physical surroundings and culture.
I have viewed Nativities peopled by Aztecs or Zapotecs A Oaxacan clay artist with whom I have visited surrounds the Holy Family with naguals, mythological, anthropomorphic figures from a distant past, which watch over the Christ Child, just as they are believed to do for their own children today In another of the Nativities, the archangels Michael and Raphael watch over the Holy Family.
There are some Nativities that reflect current events, such as one showing the Chiapas revolutionary leader, Marcos, and Chiapan peasants. In another from Tequila, Guadalajara, the central characters are surrounded by maguey plants, with a devil figure holding a pitchfork and a tequila bottle. There are even Nativities carved from giant radishes to celebrate La Noche de rabanos (Night of the Radishes) in Oaxaca .
Nonetheless , in spite of all these different interpretations, we always are able to see the Christmas story, even though it is often presented in a context that would have been alien to the original Spanish missionaries . Judith Davis, El Cerrito, California, travels frequently to Mexico.
