The Ten Piece Resin Nativity Scene Figures consist of the Holy Family, three Wisemen, a shepherd, a donkey, an ox and a sheep. The tallest figure is 8 inches. The baby Jesus is lying in a straw covered manger with a wedgewood blue cloth with Mary kneeling on one side and Joseph standing on the other side holding a staff and a lantern. All of the figures, with the exception of the ox, have tiny glitter highlights on their capes, the fur of the sheep and the pack on the back of the donkey.
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Shepherds Long before man began to write history, shepherds watched the flocks, in the fields, to guard them against wild animals. Sheep generally wandered around from one place to another, through the villages and around them, looking for grass to eat under the care of a shepherd. The raising of sheep was a critical part of the Holy Lands social and agricultural system. They were part of the intricate sacrificial system that governed religious life at the time of Christ’s birth. Often shepherds were children, sometimes groups of children. The shepherd's job was to protect, feed, and provided shelter and direction for their flock. A shepherd would also lay down his life for his flock.
The shepherds of biblical times carried staffs to guide their flocks in times of danger. The staff was also a formidable weapon when the shepherd used it to defend the flock. Shepherd’s also carried a rod that was about a meter long and had a knob on the end. This was used to count the sheep. The shepherd’s daily routine involved calling forth the flock in the
morning. The sheep would actually recognize the shepherd’s voice. He would then watch the flock with the help of dogs, much the same as shepherds today do. If any sheep would stray the shepherd would follow it until it was brought back to the flock. He would also provide the flock with water either by leading them to a stream or at troughs attached to wells.
In the evening, the shepherd would call the flock back to the sheepfold. A sheepfold is an enclosure or pen for sheep. Usually the walls of the sheepfold were made of stone. As the shepherd led the sheep back to the fold, he would count them to make sure that all had returned. He would count them by having them pass under his rod. During the evening the shepherd would watch the entrance to the fold to ensure that none of the flock would be endangered.
Sheep are an important part of the economy of the Mediterranean, Europe, and Western Asia even today. Sheep are among the most important animals that man has tamed. They provide both food and clothing. Tapestries for walls, and carpets for floors, and blankets, are also made from sheep’s wool. They also furnish raw materials such as glue, tallow, suet, soap, fertilizer, cosmetics and the catgut used in stringing tennis rackets.
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The Christmas Crib.
In the year 1220 St, Francis of Assissi visited Bethlehem. He liked the way the Christmas was celebrated there so much, that he asked the Pope for permission to recreate it in his own Italian village.
He built a manger in a cave. In it he placed a stone image of the baby Jesus. He surrounded the manger with real animals. Then he said a Mass (communion). The people found it so moving that they said it was possible to believe you were there at the actual birth of Jesus.
Before long, wooden nativity scenes were displayed in churches and homes across Europe. Today they continue to be popular as a way of reminding us of what Christmas is really about, the birth of Jesus.
The tradition was brought into Spain from Naples during the reign of Charles III of Spain.
In Catalonia, a figure is included that represents a Catalan peasant.
In Provence, in the South of France, nativity scenes are sometimes made up of hundreds of small painted clay figurines called Santon. They represent all the traditional trades and professions of old Provence. Because of their cultural value the Santons are often collected as art or craft objects, regardless of their possible use in a nativity scene.
A nativity scene, also called a crib or crèche, generally depicts the birth or birthplace of Jesus. Nativity scenes, in two dimensions or three, usually show Jesus in a manger, with Joseph, and Mary in a barn intended for the housing of animals. A mule, ox, sheep, and sometimes other barnyard animals, surround them. The scene sometimes includes three wise men, shepherds, angels and the Star of Bethlehem.
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