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.
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?