Tips for Buying and Setting Up Outdoor Nativity Set Displays

Large outdoor Nativity set displays
Homemade indoor crèche
Small homemade Nativity crèche for indoor display

During Christmastime it is not uncommon to see charming miniature manger scenes adorning the inside of the home alongside wreaths, stockings “hung by the chimney with care,” and trees—artificial or evergreen—sagging with bright, colorful ornaments. To really make a splash, however, you need to go BIG.

The Christmas holiday season is a magical time of year, where homes, gardens, places of worship, and businesses are transformed into enchanting public expressions of joy and celebration. One traditional type of decoration that never fails to captivate are outdoor Nativity set displays. Bear in mind, however, that there isn’t just one single “right” way to show your Christmas spirit with your eye-catching, outdoors manger scene. Multiple factors come into play. Whether you’re a novice or an expert decorator, here are some tips to guide you in buying and setting up your outdoor Nativity set displays.

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The Santa Sleigh After the Holidays: A Christmas Coda

Illustration of Santa sleigh from The Night Before Christmas

It is January 2024. Last December’s holiday recedes into the past, and the excitement of 2023’s Christmas morning has faded away. The children, no longer snug in their beds, opened their presents long ago and have been enjoying them for weeks now. Santa’s magical reindeer are back at the North Pole, along with the equally magical Santa sleigh. The reindeer are resting from their day-long journey around the world, feasting on frosty mosses and lichens or, as a special treat, a big dish of raisins; yet, truth be told, they long for the spring day when they can munch on fresh willow and birch leaves. And, for the moment, the Santa Sleigh remains as still as a midwinter’s night. But now what?

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The Allure of Giant Nutcrackers: A Timeless Christmas Decor Tradition

Giant nutcracker figure in front of a Christmas tree

As the holiday season approaches, households and businesses begin to brighten up their indoor and outdoor public spaces with various decorations, including Christmas trees with glowing lights, Santa figurines complete with sleigh and reindeer, and of course those hard-to-miss giant nutcrackers. These traditional Christmas figures have been common since the 19th century, and their creative design, colorful costumes, and grand size make them a centerpiece in any home or marketplace. The appeal of these imposing figures is undeniable, and there is no better addition to holiday cheer during this festive season. Here we will delve a little into the history of nutcrackers, their connection to Tchaikovsky’s famous ballet, and the quality of craftsmanship that goes into these iconic holiday figures, which have long captivated children and adults alike.

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How Life-size is a Life-size Santa Anyway? (Asking for a friend…)

Santa Claus looking surprised

Long seen as a symbol of Christmas, embodying the spirit of giving and joy that is associated with the holiday season, Santa Claus statues and figurines are a perennially popular choice for indoor and outdoor decorating in December. Thanks to the distinctive appearance and timeless allure of these statues, they are guaranteed to spread holiday cheer around homes and businesses. The variety of styles and designs available means that there is a Santa Claus statue to suit every taste and preference. From cute and exquisite shapes to lifelike figurines, there’s something for everyone. In addition, they come in a wide range of sizes, from hold-in-your-hand small to gargantuan large, and everything in between. The most popular, however, is doubtless the life-size Santa Claus. Which leads us to consider: How large, exactly, is a “life-size Santa”?

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How Giant Toy Soldiers Joined the Christmas Festivities

Giant nutcracker toy soldier in woodsy winter scene

Ah, that joyous time of year when we bring a flurry of festive cheer into our homes and hearts. Nothing quite beats the feeling that Christmas has arrived—as evidenced by the sparkling lights and decorations, the smell of freshly-baked treats in the kitchen, and holiday movies and music playing on infinite repeat. It truly is an enchanting experience. This festive season can be made exceptionally more magical with the apparition of giant toy soldiers as electrifying decorations in front of homes and businesses! These larger-than-life figures dominate exteriors across our public spaces to create astounding displays.

Such eye-catching decor will not only elevate your Christmas celebrations but will also help you make some precious memories together with your family. So let’s jump right in and discover how giant toy soldiers can add extra pep to your holiday festivities this year!

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The Outdoor Santa Sleigh: A Jovial Decorating Tradition

Outdoor Santa sleigh

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.

— From “A Visit from Saint Nicholas” by Clement Clark Moore


Santa Claus has long represented a veritable movable feast of happiness and love. Whether known as Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas, or Kris Kringle, this legendary character appears each December, bringing gifts of all kinds and spreading the joy of the Christmas season around our beautiful planet. On the evening of every December 24, holiday celebrants in the United States and elsewhere in the world wait with anticipation for the jolly old elf to make his rounds, flying from house to house through the frigid outdoors. Santa’s sleigh—pulled by eight trusty reindeer (sometimes nine if you include Rudolph, who joined the club in 1939)—is even tracked by the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) as it makes its speedy progress through the hemispheres!

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The Art of Shopping for Outdoor Nativity Sets

Outdoor Nativity scene in Vatican City

When Christmastime is upon us, people enjoy publicly displaying decorations expressing their holiday cheer. Outdoors, in front of homes and businesses and churches, you might find brightly lit Christmas trees and evergreen wreaths on doors. There may be jaunty snowmen or oversized inflatable candy canes. You are likely also to run across beautiful outdoor Nativity sets displayed by those who cherish the religious foundation of the season.

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Life-size Santas—Dressed for the Season

Life-size Santa figurine

At Christmas time, Santa Claus—that “jolly old elf”—can be found just about everywhere. Miniature Santa figurines stand atop mantles along with sleighs and tiny reindeer. Delicate glass Santa ornaments decorate the branches of Christmas trees. In the stores, plush Santa dolls sit, hoping to be claimed by a lucky child. Wooden Santa nutcrackers wait their turn to break open walnuts at a holiday party. And life-size Santas stand on porches and in yards, greeting visitors and passersby with the best of holiday cheer.

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It Doesn’t Really Feel Like Christmas Without Giant Toy Soldiers!

Christmas giant toy soldiers

Standing tall and dapper, attired in their finest military raiment—sartorial elegance in velvet and gold—nothing shouts “Christmas!” quite like giant toy soldiers standing at attention in front of decked-out homes or stores overflowing with holiday wares. They have become one of the iconic motifs of Yuletide festivities. Often referred to as nutcracker dolls or Christmas nutcrackers, their legacy goes back centuries. As we leaf through cherished Christmas tales this coming holiday season, let’s delve into the past and shine a light on Christmas toy soldiers and nutcrackers.

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Under a Conservative SCOTUS, Does the Plastic Christmas Reindeer Rule Still Matter?

Christmas reindeer

Some years ago we explored the sticky question of a municipal, state, or federal entity celebrating the Christmas holiday with the public display of an overtly denominational religious symbol, such as a manger scene. The consensus at the time (in 2011) was that the best recourse is to abide by the Plastic Reindeer Rule. This decision by the Supreme court in 1984 refers to a Pawtucket, Rhode Island, case (Lynch v. Donnelly) wherein the court ruled that the city did not violate the separation of church and state principle when it included a Nativity scene among a number of other seasonal and mostly secular holiday decorations (e.g., life-size Christmas reindeer, giant candy canes, a wishing well, a Jewish menorah, etc.) displayed in a public park.

No doubt this Solomonic decision by the Supreme Court left both religious and non-religious advocates equally unhappy. Yet that is the essential wisdom of Solomonic judgments: Everybody wins if nobody wins!

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