As families are decorating for the holidays, one piece almost always on hand is the nativity scene, depicting the holy family of Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus.
Now, you can see some very unusual sets from the country's largest collection of nativity scenes on display in Washington D.C., Cincinnati, and Dayton, Ohio.
The collection includes sets where sheep and ox have been replaced by polar bears, wolves and flying camels and the shepherds and wisemen are joined by mariachi musicians, Indian chiefs and toy makers, representing many different cultures.
The Marian Library at the University of Dayton houses the collection of nearly 1,000 nativity scenes or crèches, as they're called. The library's collection of contemporary sets represents nearly 45 countries and includes styles and settings as diverse as the heritage, vision and interpretation of the artists who created them. Some incorporate earthen elements like cork, bamboo and moss to create natural landscapes; others use household items such as bread, wax and clothespins to set the scene. Traditional mangers abound, but the Christ child can also be found in a forest, cave and even a Swiss chalet.
The library set out to amass a collection of varied cultural interpretations of the nativity in 1994. The undertaking, managed by the library's Crèches International committee, is designed to promote the study and understanding of culture and religion, as well as the Christmas story
itself. In spite of its emergence in the Middle Ages, the nativity set did not become part of popular culture until the 17th and 18th centuries.
The director of the collection says that over the centuries, figures were added and new stories interwoven with that of the birth of Christ. Their message is that Christ is born for all for us, at any given time, no matter color or culture.
