These Medium Sized Fontanini Nativity Creches are 12 inches tall at the tallest center point, 16½ inches across and 8 inches deep. The outside of the roof and the inside of the back wall of the Fontanini Nativity are covered with lush sphagnum moss and the edge of the roof is trimmed with bark strips. The inside floor is covered with straw and has clumps of sphagnum moss in each of the corners. There are two short walls on each side of the Creche edged with bark strips. There is a small cypress tree on one side. The back wall has a layer of foam, with a window cut out, that gives a look of adobe to that corner of the Fontanini Nativity Creche.
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A Cherub.
A cherub is an angel of great knowledge and a symbol of heavenly wisdom or justice. The plural of cherub is cherubim. The cherubim rank just below the order of angels called the seraphim.
In art the cherubim are usually represented by children’s heads, with one, two or three pairs of wings. In the earliest religious paintings they have thoughtful and intelligent faces. The early painters also followed strict rules for color schemes when representing cherubim. In a picture of angels in circles, called a “Glory of Angels”, the second circle, that of the cherubim, was always blue. This color stood for light and knowledge. The inner circle, that of the seraphim, was red. Later artists painted the angels with more freedom. Such paintings as the Sistine Madonna by Raphael and “Coronation of the virgin” by Perugino show this change. In the Raphael picture, the Madonna stands on clouds made up of heads of many cherubim. At the base of the picture rest two cherubim which are noted for the serious beauty of their faces. In the Perugino picture, the floating cherubim have wings of various colors. Another painting by Perugino, “Assumption of the virgin”, also contains famous cherubim.
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Angels.
Angels are Immortal spirits that appear to mankind at important moments. They appear to man as messengers of god, bringing messages of comfort, warnings, tests of belief and deliverance. They are also bringers of peace and goodwill. The New Testament tells how the Angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds keeping watch over their flocks to bring them good tidings of great joy, the Birth of Christ, and the multitude of angels proclaimed, Glory to God in the highest and on earth, peace, goodwill toward men.
Everyone has a guardian angel watching over and providing protection from harm. Spreading their loving wings, guardian angels escort us all securely through life. They help lessen our fears and misery, allowing us to be optimistic about whatever the future brings.
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The Star.
The star symbolizes the star that appeared, quite miraculously, in the eastern sky on the birth of Jesus Christ. The star is believed to have guided shepherds and the magi, who were the three wise men from the East, to the newborn king.
One wonders whether the star that shined that night was any different from those of today.
The star was indeed a strange star and people continue to believe that a miracle occurred at the birth of Christ.
The Christmas star continues to adorn the churches and houses as part of the traditional Christmas celebrations. The star stands for high hopes and ideals, a hope for a good fortune and to reach above oneself.
The Christmas Rose.
Christmas Rose is an English plant that is regarded as a true Christmas flower. It is sometimes called the Snow or Winter Rose. It blooms in the depths of winter in the mountains of Central Europe. Legend links it with the birth of Christ and a modest shepherd maiden named Madelon. As Madelon tended her sheep one cold and wintry night, wise men and other shepherds passed by the snow-covered field, where she was, with their gifts for the Christ Child. The wise men carried the rich gifts of gold, myrrh and frankincense and the shepherds, fruits, honey and doves. Poor Madelon began to weep at the thought of having nothing to offer, not even a simple flower for the Newborn King, as she was very poor indeed. And as she stood there weeping, an angel saw her sorrow, and brushed aside the snow at her feet to reveal a most beautiful white flower tipped with pink, the Christmas rose.