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As the commercialism of Christmas starts to ramp up into high gear,
there is a place you can go to experience a peaceful, exquisite, quiet
display that celebrates the true meaning of Christmas.
The Walkerton branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
is hosting its fifth annual Thousands of Nativities, the largest display
of its kind in the world, beginning Thursday (Nov. 19) and running to
Nov. 29. Featuring more than 3,000 nativity sets, the display is the
culmination of hours and hours of work by hundreds and hundreds of
people, including children and youth.
Organizing the busy team of volunteers is Flora Nabrotzky who is
passionate about creating this gorgeous display every year for the
public to view for free. More than 165 churches of all denominations,
representing congregations from Drayton to Kincardine, Wingham to
Paisley, and all points in between and beyond, have been invited to loan
nativities for this wonderful tour. Families, friends, neighbours,
communities and collectors from far and wide are sharing their
nativities; and the event includes original nativity ornaments, created
by children and youth from several elementary and secondary schools.
The nativity sets come in all shapes, sizes and materials, says
Nabrotzky. Some are micro-micro-miniature, while others are larger than
life. They are made from toothpicks, beeswax, bone, popsicle sticks,
crystal, leather, onyx, barn board, pewter, ceramics, olive wood,
soapstone, glass, straw, ivory, gingerbread, gourds, and clay. They
represent different countries and cultures: Eskimo, Oriental, Italian,
Scandinavian, South American, Egyptian, etc. The ethnic diversity
enriches the display, as do the information cards with stories and
histories of many of the nativities. Some are more than 100 years old.
One of the new creations belongs to Tyler Sanders and Mitch Topham of
Sacred Heart School in Wingham. They created their nativity scene out of
natural things, such as leaves and pine cones, and popsicle sticks. The
three pine cones represent Joseph, Mary and the Baby Jesus, and the
cotton balls are the sheep.
A German display, at the start of the tour, is one of Nabrotzky's
favourites. The individual pieces keep moving toward the stable as the
days get closer to Christ's birth. Other favourites, she says, are a
wood-carved one, a salt-glazed set, the tin ones, the international
sets, and the ones in the White Room.
The White Room has an ambiance all its own. Nabrotzky says some people
linger in there for hours because it is so elegant and ethereal, it
feels like Heaven. The nativities are all white, with a few spots of
colour here and there, and are displayed against a gorgeous white
background. Bruce and Tina Clift of Kincardine put together this room.
Tina has donated many of the nativities, while Bruce has donated one -
the rubber ducky nativity scene.
The Victorian Light Nativity is more than 100 years old. The owner's
grandmother was escaping with her daughter from Prussia at the end of
the Second World War and they were allowed only a knapsack to take with
them. She grabbed the small nativity set and took it with her.
One nativity is made from olive wood carved in Bethlehem; another is set
in a filigreed egg; and yet another is made from beach glass from the
Maritimes - that one was sent by Peggy James of Prince Edward Island.
Marjorie Claassen of Belgrave loaned one that she bought at a sale.
There was no Baby Jesus in the set so she had a friend carve a Baby
Jesus for her and it is absolutely gorgeous.
Every year is different because the nativities are laid out differently,
says Nabrotzky. The event actually began on a smaller scale about 10
years ago through the efforts of Andy and Holly Puskas who had moved to
Paisley from Edmonton. Once they returned to Alberta, there was no
display for a year, as volunteers prepared for a larger,
farther-reaching and even more community-inclusive display. When the
event was opened to the entire community, more than 1,000 nativity sets
were included, says Nabrotzky, and it has grown since then. Last year,
there were 3,043 nativities.
"We get busloads of children in here to tour the display," says
Nabrotzky. "Some of them created nativities for it. One time, I had some
children come up and tell me that two Baby Jesus pieces were missing.
Actually, in one set, Mary was holding Baby Jesus, but in the other, the
family that loaned it to us does not put the Baby Jesus out until
Christmas Eve so it wasn't in the set. Kids really focus on the Baby
Jesus."
Nabrotzky says she prays about the display every year and her hand is
guided by God in putting together the nativities. "That first year, when
we started organizing it, I had a vision of what it would look like,"
she says. "And when we were setting up the display, I had a vivid
picture of it. He is the designer, and I am grateful and humbled to be
the instrument in all this. When it's finished, it always looks so
breathtakingly beautiful."
Working with her are a dedicated group of professional designers,
carpenters, electricians and volunteers with a cross-section of skills,
transforming the church's rooms, ceilings and halls to enhance a world
of nativities. "Together with everyone sharing their nativities, it is
an extensive collaborative effort, bridging all our communities," says
Nabrotzky. "That's what makes it so special - these nativities are
personally shared from people's homes. That gives this display a warmth
and intimacy you won't find in a commercial showroom. Besides the beauty
of the nativities, people find here a deep love, peace, strength and
hope to help them in troubled times."
Admission is free because the gift of our Savour is free, says Nabrotzky.
All the nativities are loaned for the display and she has a good group
of volunteers - but she could always use more. Volunteers not only help
set up the display, but they help host the event. "We need to cover 168
shifts over the 11 days," she says. "Each day there are seven hosts and
security personnel on duty. We're hoping people will sign up to share
their nativities next year, and also sign up to help."
While the church is full of nativities, the services are held at Sacred
Heart School in Walkerton which allows the congregation use of the
conference room free of charge.
The Thousands of Nativities opens Thursday, Nov. 19 and runs to Sunday,
Nov. 29. You can view the display weekdays and Sundays, 1-9 p.m. and
Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Everyone is welcome to quietly walk through
but there are no formal tours or tour guides. It is completely
wheelchair accessible.
The church is located at 11 Fourth St. From the OPP station at the
corner of Highways 4 and 9, go one block north and turn left on Fourth
Street, go one-half block and it's on your left between Maple Court
Villa and Brant Central School.
Some of the nativities in the White Room
An outside nativity set, owned by the Scharringa family of Listowel
Nativity made from beach glass, owned by Peggy James of P.E.I.
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Tyler Sanders (L) and Mitch Topham, Grade 6, of
Sacred Heart School in Wingham, admire their natural nativity scene
Victorian Light nativity is 100 years old
A tiny nativity owned by Heather Finnie of Ripley
This nativity is made from olive wood carved in Bethlehem
A wood-carved nativity scene owned by Marjorie Claassen of Belgrave
Wooden hanging ornament nativity
Gold nativity scene
A wood-carved nativity owned by Mayme Wilkins of Ashfield Township
Christmas in Bethlehem moving display
Red clay nativity made in Paraguay
First Nations nativity scene all in white
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