Following YonderStar

Shown above : 9 piece nativity set from UgandaSeveral of our nativity sets are made in Uganda from bark-cloth which may leave you wondering : What exactly IS bark cloth?Making barkcloth is an ancient Ugandan tradition, and the cloth is known as olubugo in Uganda.Olubugo makers must carefully harvest the bark of the Mutuba to allow the tree to continue to grow. Large sections of bark are removed, beaten with mallets to give it a soft texture, and allowed to dry.The use and producti …

The iconic lighted plastic outdoor nativity sets long made in the USA are sadly no longer in production. General Foam Plastics (formerly Empire of Carolina) has closed its manufacturing plants and the outdoor nativity molds were sent for scrap. We purchased all the life size outdoor nativity sets we could (we know they are most people's favorites) but once our supply is gone, they will be gone for good. :( How did this happen? Well, it seems big box retailers had stopped carryin …

We were so delighted to receive this photo from Shannon in Oregon - she has a vintage Holy Family carved in Obergammermau, Germany and displays it alongside pieces from the LEPI Venetian nativity collectionThe color palette and scale of her antique nativity set are so complimented by the additional pieces. So lovely to mix old and new together. Thank you again Shannon for sending us the photo. …

Ukraine has a rich history of Christmas traditions, with the Vertep tradition of the nativity play being among the most important.Vertep is the Ukrainian tradition of the nativity story presented using a puppet theater. The Ukrainian word Vertep is rooted in the Old Slavonic word for cave.The vertep (nativity) is traditionally housed in a shopka (from the Polish for box) and travels from house to house within a village. The performance of the Vertep would take place with carols, and the sec …

Our dear friend Anne in Utah has shared her inspiring nativity collection with many throughout the years and she has been kind enough to send in photos of her recent Celebration of Christ display. The light of Christ is truly present in Anne's artful and educational outreach. Here are some of her photos for you to enjoy: Have Faith Christ's there in Life's Summer, Sharing His Warmth and Light. Anne's Summer nativity display is alive with bright colors. Her addition of a bowl and pitch …