Nativities from other countries

 A puzzle made in Morocco that we got at The Tabernacle gift shop in Lancaster, PA. It was one of many puzzles, most of which were of Amish scenes.

One of the deep-rooted custom in culture and Peruvian folklore, are the “nacimientos”: nativity scenes.

The assembly of the nativity is a tradition that, at the beginning of the colonial stage, used to be an instrument for evangelization brought from Spain by the Congregation of the Jesuits. Throughout the years, each region in Peru started to develop it’s own ”nacimientos” based on typical elements of each region. A nativity in Cusco, for example, is very different from the typical ones from Lima or Ayacucho, where the nativities are called ‘retablos’. Each province has it’s own way to show their Christmas fervor. In the northern provinces of Peru the nativities are made our of mud; other provinces mix Inca and Spanish culture and incorporate elements from different periods. Also the “Ashaninkas” – the indigenous people of the jungle – have their own Christmas nativity scenes and rituals: the cribs are visited by little shepherds who sing Christmas carols to the Child. (https://www.amautaspanish.com/blog/peruvian-nativities-cusco-typical-christmas/)

The next nine pictures are all of nativities from Peru

The one on the left was purchased in North Beach, MD and the one on the left was a gift from a friend.

Alabaster. The one on the left was given to me by the daughter of a resident of Sacred Heart Home where I began collecting nativities (see the post "How it all got started")

In the Central Peruvian highlands, Junin is famous for its “mates burilados”: beautiful gourds decorated with varies patterns related to Christmas (https://www.amautaspanish.com/blog/peruvian-nativities-cusco-typical-christmas/) We bought the one on the left at a mission in Santa Barbara, CA. The one on the right was a gift from a Yankee Swap gift exchange, Christmas 2018

Retablos

Clay 

Clay. I love how they are dressed, very typical of Peruvian nativities

Clay

We were given this nativity from Guatemala soon after we began collecting nativities.

A former co-worker gave me this bookmark that she had purchased in Egypt.

Our daughter, Kathy, led a mission trip to Guatemala in 2018 She brought this back and gave it to me for my birthday.

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Davidsonville UMC had a fundraiser for 10,000 Villages. We bought this nativity that was made in Viet Nam

    Carole and Jack especially like acquiring nativities from other countries. Most of these were purchased in the US at bazaars, yard sales and flea markets. They have also received them as gifts from friends and family. They have also been able to find them in their travels to other countries. Their goal is to bring back at least one nativity as a souvenir whenever they travel.

Front view of carved Massai nativity that we found in a flea market in Norfolk.

Back view of Massai nativity

Nativity we found in a store in Cabo San Lucas when we were on our cruise in 2013 that went from Ft Lauderdale to San Diego through the Panama Canal.

Carved wooden nativity that we found at the Irish Bible Society store in Dublin, Ireland. There is no indication of the country of origin on the figures or on the box  But one figure, on the underside, mentions an Irish distributor. On our entire two week cruise around the British Isles this was the only nativity that we found.

Carole was always intrigued by the nativity made out of Coke cans that she saw one year at the annual Nativity Display at the Washington Cathedral in Washington, DC. Kathy found this soda can from Kenya on the internet and gave it to Carole for Christmas 2012.

This case is almost all Latin American nativities

The next eight pictures are of nativities we purchased while in Costa Rica, August 16-November 12, 2013. We were able to do a lot of sightseeing while serving as Mission Nannys.

Joseph got lost on two of the three nativities. Probably happened in transit.

This is a candle we found in Walmart. According to the label it was made in Costa Rica for Walmart.

We found this in the Escazu farmers market. It is handmade.

Found in Walmart in Escazu

While we were living in Costa Rica we stayed at Lilliana's house. She and her boyfriend gave us the following signed and numbered print by Alfieri, a New York born artist. It is titled "Pasito" which is Spanish for nativity. It is dated 2007. 

Philip Alfieri “Pacito” lithograph signed in pencil and numbered print 30/175

Philipi Alfieri studied at the university of Miami, Florida, the Art Students League, New York, and at the Under Bosa, Corbino, Bouche. He has received awards from the following: Prix D'Rome Finalist, Six Greenwich Village Exibition, New York University Scholarship, and West Side Savings Traveling. He has had numersous exibitions throughout the United States, including Collectors Gallery, Manhasset, New York; Fountainbleau Gallery, Miami, Florida; Stamford Museum, Stamford, Connecticut; Verzyl Gallery, Northport, New York; Beckman Gallery, Maine; and Golden Door, New Hope, Pennsylvania. His work is represented in the art collections

ALFIERI--Philip S., 88 years old, of Rego Park, NY died on Friday April 10 at Park Manor in Bloomfield. Philip was born in Rochester, NY and lived in Newark and in Queens for the last 55 years. He was a professional painter and portrait artist.

The following olive wood ornaments all came from the Holy Land. Although not always marked, most olive wood ornaments are made in Jordan

Brought back from Austria by Ginger and Mark when they took their 25th anniversary cruise down the Danube.

From Uganda. Made of banana leaves. Gift from Houston-Ludlams 

Distributed by www.KarziCraft.com "East African Crafts for a Cause"

Kanzi is Swahili for "hidden treasure. Kanzi's mission is to promote the hidden treasures of East Africa in the global marketplac and to provide sustainable incomes for East African artisans benefitting their families and communities. a portion of Kanzis proceeds also helps provide African children with education and proper care.

Gift from Ginger and Mark. 

Close up of interior of nativity above

From Germany. In a walnut shell. A gift from Doris Schmidt

Made in the Philippines of abaca fibers. We found this at the Christmas ship at the Biltmore Estate in Ashville, NC

Carole took the fronts of inlaid banana bark cards and put them on a ribbon. "These were made in Haiti and distributed by Food for the Poor. Inc. Food for the Poor was founded in 1982 to link the church of the first world with the church of the third world in a manner that helps both the materially poor and the poor in the spirit. The organization is unique in that it tailors its aid efforts to fit the specific needs of each program it enter, custom-fitting operations with what is actually needed in the field.. The Banana Bark program helps give mothers dignity, enabling them to provide for their children through honest work."

 When Missy and Adney visited Adney's parents in South Africa, they brought back this nativity carved from a jackaranda tree. This tree is an invasive species in South Africa. It was imported from Brazil to use for making coffins. The city of Pretoria is nicknamed "The Blue City" because it has so many jackarandas.

The following pictures are of the jackaranda tree at Betty Sullins home in Santa Barbara, CA. 

A jackaranda tree in bloom in front of Betty Sullins mobile home in Santa Barbara, CA

 German Pyramid of Light (see explanation under Nativities made from wood)

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When Mark and Ginger went to Antartica they sailed from the southernmost city in the world: Ushuaia,  Argentina  where they bought this nativity.

From the Philippines

Emmy bought this nativity from Murano, Italy when she took an art class in Italy, summer of 2015. In 1291, the mayor of Venice, Italy ordered that all glass factories move to the island of Murano to prevent harmful factory fires from affecting Venice. Since then, Murano glass has developed a reputation for beauty and color. Murano glass is first identified by its location, then its factories, and finally its designers. You can identify these sources with a certificate of authenticity, a master glass maker signature or a Murano glass catalog.

Also from Ushuaia, Argentina

Ceramic nativities

 Carole began taking ceramic classes at the South County Recreation Center in 1991. It was the same year that she began collecting nativities. The center has a lot of nativity molds. Some are one piece and others are multiple pieces. There is only one set that she hasn't made and that is because it is too big. She has used different techniques on different molds. Carole also scoured ceramic shops and catalogs for both greenware (ceramics before it is fired) and bisque (after it is fired). She has also found bisque in flea markets and yard sales. If a piece has been done it stains, the stains can be fired off and repainted. She has also done this with pieces from flea markets that were poorly painted.

     You can finish a ceramic piece in several different ways including glazing, staining, and chalking. Carole prefers staining and chalking.

Left side glazed and right side chalked. The right one was a fair entry.

I like this better without the candles. The holders look like little wells to me.

A pot pourri holder

The first horn nativity that I made.

Found this piece as bisque in a thrift store

Glazed ornament

Two different styles of nativity trees. 

This will be one of two 2019 Anne Arundel County fair entries in "Ceramics:" Below is the piece before it was dry brushed.

The second step in the staining/dry brushing method. The first step is to base coat the piece and then antique it.

Chalked modernistic nativity. 2017 fair entry

Ceramic lamp shades using the same molds but finished differently. The one on the left is just antiqued blue. The one on the right has been chalked.

Same shade dry brushed. These shades can be used with candles or lamp bases. 

Small ceramic nativity which will be one of three 20017 Anne Arundel County Fair entries.

This wreath will be Carole''s second ceramic entry at the 2017 Anne Arundel County Fair. She found the this piece in bisque online.

 

Nativity scene in lighted wreath. The first one Carole made. It was intended for the 2013 AA County Fair but did not get there.She gave it away and made a duplicate for 2014. It got "Best of Show"

Candle holder (Carole has made this one several times to use as gifts)

Ornaments

An ornament

Found at a school craft fair which was part of Autumn Glory (annual festival in Oakland, MD). It was not very well done but Carole bought it because she knew the stains could be fired off. She redid it. When entered in the Anne Arundel County Fair it got first place and Reserve Champion.

Votive candle holder

The "stable" is chalked and the figures are dry brushed.

Dry brushed

Stained nativity in a cut out tree.

This looks like it is a lid to a bowl but where was the bowl when Carole found it

Glazed nativity on a pedestal. Carole calls it "The Egg

Indian Flight to Egypt. Note Mary is riding on a pony

Dry brushed Indian set. Got greenware from Larrianne

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Holds a hurricane globe and candle

Ceramic but looks like wood because it is only antiqued which is the second step of drybrushing.

Dry brushed one piece nativity

The following nativities use the same mold but two different methods. The ones on the left were painted and the ones on the right were chalked. The chalked nativities will be 2019 Anne Arundel County Fair entries.

Painted (the second one I made)

Chalked

Chalked

Painted (the first one I made)