What would CHRISTmas be without the Nativity?! We’ve got a few fun ideas of different ways you can share HIStory whether you have sweet littles or an empty nest, traditional or themed décor, and a large or limited space!
THE CHRISTMAS STORY
If you’ve never heard the CHRISTmas story, you may wonder just what is it all about … why display it? Some of our team rallied together to share the famous scripture read by Charlie Brown from Luke chapter 2, verses 8-14 using the popular 5″ Fontanini® Nativity collection.
“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night – And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid – And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord – And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger – And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.“
SHARING THE LIGHT
Looking for a perfect way to highLIGHT the Holy Family in your CHRISTmas decor? We’ve got an idea that will “shed a little light” on that mystery! Just as Christ is the “light of the world”, a Nativity night light is the perfect solution to illuminate your evenings; especially for small spaces where decorating is limited. A Holy Family night light is both practical and pretty!
WHITE ELEGANCE
If contemporary is your style, try a simple scene, like this white Holy Night D56 Nativity set with simple forms and metallic gold accents. You can shop Bronner’s selection of Nativity scenes for one to suit your style!
Have you ever heard the saying “less is more”? Well we think it works well for an elegant approach to decorating as well! We displayed this eight-piece Nativity on a white mantle against the backdrop of an artificial crescent swag of mixed pine branches with pine cones and twigs. Fresh, foraged greens would also work beautifully!
If country chic is more your style and you don’t have a mantle, you can always display your Nativity on an antique wooden chair! We used another artificial glittering pine branch to play off the curve of the chair just to give it that extra “little something special”! This display can also work well if you are limited on space but already have a chair just sitting around!😆
Another Nativity that works well with a neutral palette is the widely popular Willow Tree Collection.
We first put this display together in 2015, but some looks are timeless! With ladders still trending in home décor, we thought it would be a good Christmas decorating idea to revisit. It’s the perfect way to take your Christmas Nativity “up-a-level”! You can easily dress one up for the holidays with a simple branched garland illuminated by a string of vibrant LED Christmas lights and some ribbon woven through. We added a rustic tree topper to finish off this look, but Willow Tree has since released a lovely Starlight tree topper (1174715) which compliments the scene perfectly!
The full Willow Tree nativity collection includes:
- The Holy Family with donkey, shepherd and sheep. (1051599)
- The Three Wisemen (1058696)
- Shepherd And Stable Animals (1087642)
- Starlight Tree Topper (1174715)
- Creche (1087643)
- Song Of Joy Angel (1165495)
- Shepherdess With Sheep (1165662)
- Ox And Goat (1126938)
MINIMAL PIECES FOR BIG IMPACT
Bronner’s offers a selection of Nativity figurines and sets in many different styles. But sometimes a single piece is all you need to make a big statement!
Try displaying a piece on a candle sconce, hanging from the wall for something unexpected and fun! (You can also use a candle sconce to hang your stocking, using ribbon, if you don’t have a mantle or railing!)
Another simple idea is to display a small piece, like our exclusive Department 56 Nativity accessory, inside a glass cloche. We set it against a DIY backdrop of rustic pallet wood drilled with small holes for tiny, battery-operated LED lights to shine through as a starry night sky. This idea creates both a calming ambiance and a great alternative to traditional night lights if you like that magical glow in your evening!
KID FRIENDLY
Looking for the perfect way to share the CHRISTmas story with your favorite little people? Fisher Price’s® Little People® Nativity set is a fun solution that kids (ages 1+) can happily engage with!
The 19-piece set includes a stable that plays “Away In the Manger” when the angel atop is pressed. The star lights, and the set also includes palm tree/fence accessories, Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, a manger with hay, three Kings, an angel, camel, sheep, two donkeys and a cart-with-food-crate accessory.
Brightly colored, this fun set is sure to provide hours of imaginative play for your littles while giving the perfect canvas to share the CHRISTmas story with them! And what could be better than taking the time to pause from your busy day to teach and just play with them? It’s the stuff memories are made of … for you and them!
ADVENT CALENDAR COUNTDOWN FUN
Another way to share the CHRISTmas story is with the tradition of Advent! Bronner’s offers a wide variety of Nativity Advent wreaths or calendars that are perfect for both young children and adults. In keeping with our topic of child-friendly, we thought we’d share this fun, reusable version of the Nativity advent calendar. Choose to place a part of the detachable Nativity scene in each numbered pocket to build the story each day – or hide a small piece of candy or note in each pocket! There is no wrong way to celebrate and create memories with your loved ones!
(You may also enjoy our recent post sharing a few kid-friendly DIY ideas for the Christmas Countdown!)
Another popular way to count down the days until Christmas is with chocolate Advent calendars! (I remember these from my own childhood – no matter how hard I tried, I could never convince my mom to let me open more than one day at a time … or my brother to let me have his share😂.)
And since we’re on the topic of delicious …
Bronner’s offers this super fun Nativity cookie cutter set that makes a very unique way to share the CHRISTmas story during the holidays! Spend time in the kitchen with your children baking up warm memories of goodness, enjoy a fun night in with your girlfriends decorating (and sampling of course!) or enjoy some peace in the season baking up a batch for a cookie swap, bake sale, your neighbors, coworkers, friends … The possibilities are endless, because, really, who doesn’t love cookies at Christmas?
Not up for fancy icing? Bronner’s is sharing their delicious signature sugar cookie frosting recipe that will have you smiling this big, too!
(Check out our cookie cutter decorating ideas with these beautiful cookie cutters for those who’d rather buy the cookies than make them😆.)
CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS
It may seem simple, but don’t count them out! A Nativity ornament is a wonderful way to share the birth of Christ! Just a fun little side fact: Did you know every decorated tree at Bronner’s CHRISTmas Wonderland in Frankenmuth, Michigan, features a Nativity ornament, no matter the theme?
But really, we LOVE finding different ways to use ornaments beyond decorating the Christmas tree! And with so many different styles of ornaments, you’re sure to find one that inspires you!
Love the Nativity story? You may enjoy this post highlighting Wally Bronner’s Nativity collection from around the world on display in our program center.
Happy decorating and Merry Christmas friends!
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**Special thanks goes to Kustom Baked Kreations by Kelly for sharing her beautifully iced sugar-cookie creation with us!**
Love all the types of Nativity sets available!
We do too, Elizabeth! Thank you for sharing your love of the CHRISTmas story with us!