<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671574698331.jpg" alt="Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
                        <figcaption>Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
                    </figure><p><b>By KAYLA HARRIS and NEOMI DE ANDA</b><br><a href="https://theconversation.com/who-is-at-the-manger-nativity-sets-around-the-world-show-each-cultures-take-on-the-christmas-story-195536"><i>The Conversation</i></a></p><p>For many Christians around the world, celebrating the Nativity, or 
the birth of Jesus Christ, is the most important part of the Christmas 
season. </p><p>Among the most common Christmas traditions are <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-st-francis-created-the-nativity-scene-with-a-miraculous-event-in-1223-124742">small sets of figures</a>
 depicting Joseph, Mary and Jesus that are displayed in individual 
homes, and live reenactments of the manger scene in communities and 
churches. While Nativity sets focus on the holy family, they can also 
include an angel, the <a href="https://theconversation.com/who-were-the-3-wise-men-who-visited-jesus-195159">three wise men</a> bringing gifts, shepherds or some barnyard animals. </p><p>Around the world, it is common to see particular cultural and 
religious traditions incorporated through the materials used, the types 
of gifts presented to Jesus, or the people and animals present at the 
manger.</p><p>The Marian Library at the University of Dayton has over <a href="https://udayton.edu/imri/mary/c/creche-collection-of-the-marian-library/index.php">3,600 Nativity sets</a>,
 also known as “crèches,” the French word for cribs. These Nativities 
are used to promote the study of culture and religion. Since one of us 
is a <a href="https://udayton.edu/directory/libraries/harriskayla.php">curator</a> for this collection and the other is a <a href="https://udayton.edu/directory/artssciences/religiousstudies/deanda_neomi.php">religious studies scholar</a>, we often notice how Nativities can be used to both depict the birth of Jesus and convey unique cultural beliefs. </p><h2>Troublemakers in Scandinavia</h2><p>In Nordic folklore, “<a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/matauryn/2018/12/07/the-mischievous-tomte-spirits-of-yule/">the tomte</a>,”
 or “nisse,” is a small creature that looks rather like a garden gnome 
figurine. These long-bearded, red-capped little lads are associated with
 <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Yule-festival">Yule</a>, the celebration of the winter solstice in pre-Christian northern Europe.</p><p>While these folklore figures were often believed to be quite helpful 
around a farm, even doing chores in secret at night, they also have a 
mischievous or sometimes even scary side. For example, in one <a href="https://www.upress.umn.edu/book-division/books/scandinavian-folk-belief-and-legend">legend</a>
 a young farm girl decides to put butter at the bottom of the porridge 
bowl left out for the nisse, instead of on top. The nisse was so angry 
he immediately went and killed the farm’s best cow. Once he discovered 
the butter at the bottom, he felt remorse, and to remedy the situation 
he stole a cow from the neighboring farm. </p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671574786755.png" alt="Yuletide Lads,’ a Nativity set created by Icelandic artist Kristin Karolina.
              The Marian Library, University of Dayton., <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/">CC BY-NC-SA</a>" />
                        <figcaption>Yuletide Lads,’ a Nativity set created by Icelandic artist Kristin Karolina.
              The Marian Library, University of Dayton., <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/">CC BY-NC-SA</a></figcaption>
                    </figure><p>In Iceland, the mythical creatures are called <a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/meet-the-thirteen-yule-lads-icelands-own-mischievous-santa-clauses-180948162/">Yule Lads</a>,
 and they visit children’s homes in the lead-up to Christmas. A 2003 
Nativity scene by Icelandic crafter and artisan Kristin Karolina <a href="https://ecommons.udayton.edu/imri_creches/94/">blends the two holiday traditions</a>,
 depicting the birth of Jesus with a band of troublemakers. Made of 
knitted wool and sheepskin, the mischief-makers are licking the porridge
 spoon and stealing the Christmas meal through the chimney with a 
fishing pole. </p><h2>The devil is in the details</h2><p>Across the Atlantic, a different type of troublemaker can be found in
 Nativities: Devils are a common feature in Christmas rituals across 
Latin America.</p><p>Devils at the Nativity are a physical representation of evil in the 
world, even in the presence of the Christ child. They sometimes 
specifically represent what Catholic teachings consider “<a href="https://artuk.org/discover/stories/a-brief-art-history-of-the-seven-deadly-sins">the seven deadly sins</a>”: lust, greed, pride, envy, gluttony, sloth and wrath.</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671574844154.png" alt=" ‘The Devil Never Far,’ a Nativity set by Sotero Lemus Gervasio of Mexico. The Marian Library, University of Dayton, CC BY-NC-SA " />
                        <figcaption> ‘The Devil Never Far,’ a Nativity set by Sotero Lemus Gervasio of Mexico. The Marian Library, University of Dayton, CC BY-NC-SA </figcaption>
                    </figure><p>The devil can be found in other popular religious traditions of the 
Advent and Christmas seasons. One of these practices is the appearance 
of the devil as a character in a “pastorela,” a popular Mexican <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5-QxRZGcRA&amp;t=25s">dramatic portrayal</a> of the shepherds making their way to visit Jesus. In these <a href="https://www.proquest.com/openview/0beea9d3fac0789a/1.pdf?pq-origsite=gscholar&amp;cbl=54559">Nativity plays</a>, a devil character plays tricks and sets obstacles in the shepherds’ path, trying to keep them from Bethlehem. </p><p>Some pastorelas are set in modern times, with the devil role 
highlighting human sinfulness. But these plays end with a hopeful 
message: the love, peace and joy in the church’s teaching that God 
became human.</p><p>Another practice called “<a href="https://www.cnn.com/videos/spanish/2018/12/09/guatemaltecos-quema-diablo-virgen-inmaculada-concepcion-tradiciones-cnnee-mirador-mundial.cnn">la quema del diablo</a>,” or “<a href="https://money.yahoo.com/devil-goes-flames-guatemala-christmas-000645414.html">burning of the devil</a>,”
 is held in Guatemala. Individuals and groups set fires in front of 
their homes and around their communities to symbolize cleansing the 
world of all evil. It is held on Dec. 7, in anticipation of the <a href="https://www.vaticannews.va/en/liturgical-holidays/solemnity-of-the-immaculate-conception-of-the-blessed-virgin-mar.html">Feast of the Immaculate Conception</a>
 on Dec. 8. This feast celebrates the church’s teaching that the Virgin 
Mary herself was conceived without sin, preparing her to become the 
mother of God.</p><h2>Alike in the eyes of God</h2><p>Contrasted against the vivid colors and expressions in the Latin American depictions, Nativities representing <a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/A-History-of-the-Amish/Steven-M-Nolt/9781680990652">the Amish culture</a>
 in the United States often feature faceless figures in plain clothing. 
Amish teachings highly value humility and simplicity – many churches, 
for example, <a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/top-ten-faq/">forbid individuals to pose for a face-on photograph</a>, as this can be seen as a form of pride. Even Amish dolls for children are often created without individual faces.</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671574888217.png" alt=" ‘Amish Christmas,’ a Nativity set by U.S.-based artist Esther Glock O'Hara. The Marian Library, University of Dayton, CC BY-NC-SA " />
                        <figcaption> ‘Amish Christmas,’ a Nativity set by U.S.-based artist Esther Glock O'Hara. The Marian Library, University of Dayton, CC BY-NC-SA </figcaption>
                    </figure><p>While each Nativity set incorporates a different set of values and beliefs surrounding the birth of Christ, they are all examples of taking tenets of faith, which can often be abstract ideas, and representing them physically. And for many Christians, such traditions help represent their beliefs in a particularly powerful way: by picturing Jesus within their own culture.</p><p><i>Kayla Harris is a Librarian/Archivist at the Marian Library and Associate Professor, University of Dayton.</i></p><p><i>Neomi De Anda is an Associate Professor of Religious Studies, University of Dayton.</i></p><div><iframe src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/195536/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced" width="1" height="1" style="border: none !important" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></iframe></div>

Nativity sets offer cultural takes on the Christmas story