How to choose your nativity scene for Christmas?
Do you want to put a nativity scene under your tree for the Christmas period but you don’t know which one to choose or which one to buy? No worries, in this article we will explain to you how to choose from all the models that can be found on the internet, and how to find the one that offers the best value for money!
What is a Christmas nativity scene?
A Christmas nativity scene (also called a crèche, nacimiento or presepio in Italian) is a depiction of the scene of the birth of Jesus Christ. Usually made of pieces of wood, plastic or papier-mâché, it is displayed during the Christmas period and includes figurines representing the Holy Family with Jesus born in the manger, shepherds, wise men or kings who visited the baby Jesus.
Christmas nativity scenes are very popular in France and Europe, but they are also used in South America, Mexico and North America. A nativity scene is often set up during the Christmas period in many churches around the world to celebrate the birth of Christ.
How to make a choice ?
Since there are so many nurseries to choose from, you need to find the best nursery for your budget. That’s why we’ve put together a list of things you should pay attention to before buying your Christmas nativity scene:
The price
You can get a nursery for between $4 and $500, so it’s important to compare prices and availability before buying. A high price is not necessarily representative of a quality nursery. You can very well find excellent models, well made, at low prices!
Materials
It is best to purchase a wooden crib, as it is the strongest material and will last for years. If you don’t want to buy a real wooden crib, check that the plastic or papier-mâché used for the figures is of good quality and that they are well painted (the cheapest cribs are unpainted).
The number of rooms
This aspect is particularly important if you want to use your nursery outdoors, as you need to ensure that all the pieces will fit together perfectly so that it does not fall apart in the wind or rain. If you plan to place your crib indoors, choose a crib with fewer pieces so you can move it more easily
Mobility
If you plan to use your crib outdoors, make sure the weight of the crib is not too heavy so that you can transport it easily. Consider where you are going to place your Christmas bed and choose it accordingly!
Storage room
If you don’t have a lot of storage space, choose a crib that is easy to assemble and disassemble. It will also be easier to store if you don’t use it all year round. If you want your nativity scene to last for years, find one that’s sturdy enough that you can take it out every Christmas.
Mobility and stability
Make sure your crib is sturdy enough that it won’t tip over in the wind, as this can be quite dangerous (and will ruin your crib if you have young children). It should also fit together perfectly. Also, do not place your Christmas nativity scene on an uneven surface, as falling may be dangerous for young children.
Realistic appearance
Choose a nursery that looks real, both in terms of the characters and the environment. This will make it more fun to play with them! You can find many models in toy stores or online. But even if they aren’t realistic, they will still look beautiful!
Animated figures
They are becoming more and more popular. They make great gifts for children because a button on the crib brings up an animated character. For example, you can have moving animal figurines or shepherds dancing around the cradle etc..
With or without light
If we find simple crèches without lights, we can also find so-called luminous crèches. In other words, they are then connected to your Christmas tree or to the garlands that decorate it, and the nativity scene then lights up when you light it all up!
The size of the crib
Finally and to finish, a criterion to take into account is therefore the size. Here again the choice is quite wide. You can find both large nativity scenes, up to more than 1m long, as well as smaller models. We recommend large models for outdoors. From this side it’s up to you to see what is most suitable!
Conclusion & Opinion
Now that you know all the selection criteria and you know how to choose, it is time to find the best Christmas nativity scene ! It’s up to you to see what suits you best. The ideal is to find a model adapted in terms of size, realism, mobility and price. That you can use it both indoors and outdoors, that it is eye-catching and above all pleasant. We hope that you will have found all the answers to your questions in our article!