Found Nativity or Celebrating the Holidays Without Dusting Off the Stuff

A couple of years ago we were doing just fine, financially speaking. And by just fine, I mean, just barely fine, with a few extra pennies each month.

This is one of the best experiences we could have had, because it served as an important reminder that some things aren't necessary to have a loving home with happiness and health and all that jazz.

A nativity set is one of those things.

I've never liked the idea that there are boxes of "things" in a crawl space or attic space (or more likely for me, next to my couch) that only come out once a year. Call me a Scrooge, but I prefer decorating with food (also known as "not putting food away") or bits from nature. Bowls of apples are lovely. So are bowls of squash. I've learned that a bowl of onions isn't quite the same, but you get my drift. Keep it seasonal and you don't even have to think about decorating.

However, we were feeling rather saddened by our lack of Christmas tree, our lack of holiday ornaments and statuary and wreaths and such, and we decided to try to assemble a nativity scene based on the various statuaries we had around the house.

And this is what we created:

I know what you're thinking. For someone who doesn't like to have a lot of "stuff" around the house, what the heck am I doing with a 12" statue of Isis, a small St. Francis, two lobster-shaped napkin rings, and not one but TWO dragons?

Simple. We have and hold onto things that hold meaning for us. I married a man who used to play Dungeons and Dragons (and by used to, I mean a few weeks ago). Some of these items are marriage baggage.

But the great thing about this, is that THIS nativity holds special meaning to us. Each of these icons is relevant to us for one reason or another, either because The Three Yoga Ladies were gifted to me by one of my favorite women of all time, or because they represent an important "gift" in my life. Also, they are way nicer to look at than some old codgers toting stanky spices.

According to anthropologists, sociologists, and the Ben, Isis represents an earlier version of Mary. St. Francis loved animals, and so do we. Lobster napkin rings were gifted to me by an ex-boyfriend (don't tell the Ben), but they also remind me of the movie "Love, Actually" which is a holiday favorite involving lobsters. Dragons and turtles are just the more traditional aspects of the nativity, to keep it real.

And, to top it off, the goose flies overhead reminding us all that there are angels among us, that geese talk to people, and that some animals mate for life. Something we aspire to do as well.

May your holidays be bright, cheery, and full of whatever meaning you are looking for.