Christmas Night Inc. Blog Nativity Sets, Outdoor Christmas Displays
and Fontanini Creche Figures

Advice on Buying A Nativity

December 13th, 2011 by blogadmin

Everyone loves a deal! In these days of “free shipping”, “free returns”, coupons and big discounts for internet purchases it’s easy to forget the need to ensure the quality of the set, the continuity of supply and the ability to find matching pieces in future years. I will expand on these three concepts in this blog.

Quality of the Set: The best and most durable of the many Holy Family  and Nativity and Creche scenes being offered these days are made of fiber glass and ,with sets up to about 40″ tall ,with a filled poly resin. The fiber glass sets are made in the same way that small to mid size  boats are made and are very durable and resistant to cracking or chipping. The filled poly resin sets are also strong, although, pieces over 40″ , in our experience, may become brittle and crack easily. The paint should always be outdoor, sunlight resistant. Painted poly resin figures may need a clear coat sealant.

Continuity of Supply: Many stores and websites in the garden, home furnishing and even discount retailing are offering a few Nativity figures, usually a Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Once these sets are sold, at very low prices, there is no certainty that they will ever carry these items again. That can leave you searching high and low next year and the year after to add to or complete your set.

Finding Matching Pieces. While you may find Nativity pieces of a similar size next year, there is no guarantee that you will be able to complete your set with all figures designed and built to create a complete and integrated scene. It is very likely, that when you do find these pieces, they will cost quite a bit more than your original pieces and will not be offered with free shipping. Respect for a special kind of product and what it stands for as well as dedication to offering the very best quality and service to our customers are more important to us than the latest internet fad.

Share

The Middle of the Busy Season

November 4th, 2011 by blogadmin

Just past November 1 and our season is in full steam. Each year is unique and this season is no exception. Our new Toy Soldiers and Nutcrackers are selling very well as are the various Santa,  Sleigh and Reindeer sets we put together for this year. Our larger than life and life size Nativities and Holy Families are in demand and we are having trouble keeping up with the orders for our Nativity Stables.

Our Christmas and Artisan Nativities from Joseph’s Studio are starting to move well and this later action is normal for the smaller Nativity  sets. 38200stWhat is surprising is the slow sales of our beautiful   Fabric and Resin Nativity and 2D Wood Nativities. Watch for a promotion on these shortly!

We wanted to share with you a wonderful testimonial that we received in September from a Church in South Carolina.

” We received many compliments on the pieces purchased last December. These new pieces, which are beautiful beyond words, will really add to the scene. You need to see them to appreciate the quality of these  figures. Pictures just do not do them justice -……………….Thanks for all of your input and help——–Not sure how to do the rating, but all would be 10!”

Thank you Jo Helen!

Share

Outdoor Nativity and Christmas Displays - How Early Is Too Early?

November 2nd, 2011 by mannymichaels

I don’t think anyone follows the current trend of shopping malls and stores - that is, putting out Christmas displays next to the Halloween candy! (Yes, I’ve seen it, and I’m sure you have as well).

But how early can you put out your outdoor nativity set and various other Christmas decorations? (Make sure to follow the plastic reindeer rule!)

Traditionally - at least in my area, and the area that I grew up, most will wait to start putting up decorations until after the Thanksgiving Day Parade in Manhattan, or the lighting of the tree at Rockefeller Square - this year the tree lighting is on November 30th - so at the end of the month.

But when you put up your Christmas display (including your outdoor nativity set) what do you include? What gospel tradition do you follow?

As I’m sure you are aware, there are a good number of different depictions of the nativity. Perhaps the most interesting to me is not the difference in the two Gospel traditions (the inclusion of the shepherds and the angel, or the three Magi and the star of Bethlehem) but the difference in the nativity between the Eastern Orthodoxy and the Western traditions.
unique outdoor nativity scene
In the East, the focus of the birth is more on the fact that the Christ child is mortal - Mary is usually depicted as laying down after the birth in the East. In the West the focus is more on the divine aspect of Jesus Christ - Mary is usually depicted as sitting serenely with the Christ child on her lap.

Or, you celebrate the nativity in your own way, mixing and matching traditions and including those things that have personal meaning to you - that is what the holiday is all about, after all - finding personal meaning in the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.

I’ve seen nativity sets with saints, or within elaborately constructed buildings; I’ve even seen nativity sets that include Elvis!

Whatever nativity set that you choose to depict - be it as elaborate and grand as the display at the Vatican, or something more light-hearted like the Christmas villages, make it your own, and enjoy it!

But my question stands - how soon is too soon to create your Christmas displays and put up your outdoor nativity scene?

Share