How to Build a Christmas Creche Indoor Nativity Set

The tradition of the Christmas Creche started long ago in the year 1223 when Saint Francis was traveling to the village of Greccio. He saw the shepherds in the fields lit by the moonlight and it reminded him of the birth of Christ. Inspired by the midnight scene, he invoked the villagers to gather their torches to light the night, gather their animals and families and re-enact the first Nativity.

During the centuries, this spread from Italy to France, to Germany and other countries and continents. The art form flourished in homes and churches with scenes of shepherds and kings in fine silks and linens to African scenes with Zebras and African herders. Each Creche reflects the time and cultures of each artist and draws us closer to Jesus Christ. After all, it was the birth of Jesus, the son of Mary who gives us cause to celebrate Christmas around the world.

Nativity scenes come in a variety of different mediums and forms. Some are mass produced today in all sizes from bigger than life size to miniatures we set on our coffee tables. There are even live Creche's performed and on display in towns all over the world.

A creche, or nativity can include whatever your faith and personal relationship in Christianity calls for inclusion. The directions to follow are for a simple, hand made nativity that can become a family tradition by adding something new to it each year.

The materials you will need can usually be found around the house, however, some will have to be gotten at the local dime store or dollar store as I am sure everyone does not have miniature baby dolls laying around the house.

Materials Needed:

pop cycle sticks or very small twigs gathered from the yard
scrap material approximately 6-12 inches square
a package of farm animals about 3-5 inches tall
floral moss (green looks good but gray or brown can also be used)
finely chopped straw or raffia finely cut
hot glue gun and glue sticks
pipe cleaners (mainly brown or black ones)
scraps of fabric ribbons (used for tying the robes to the people)
small miniature dolls, one female and at least one male...more for adding shepherds and kings)

Starting with the manger, put together several pop cycle sticks or twigs to make a 3 sided shed of sorts, gluing them together with hot glue. Mount the 3 sided shed to a piece of 1/8" plywood (plywood should be rectangular in shape and does not need to be sanded smooth unless you want it that way), with the hot glue gun, fasten the 3 sides at the bottoms to the plywood. Begin putting a roof on by laying pop cycle sticks/twigs on the tops of the 3 walls and then glue the floral moss to the top to create a thatched roof.

Next, take 2 pop cycle sticks or twigs and glue them together side by side to form the bottom of the manger. These need only be long enough to accommodate the baby doll miniature you have chosen to use. At an angle, begin to make the sides of the manger by gluing the sticks together as you did the bottom of the manger attaching the sides to the bottom at a slight angle. The ends are enclosed by taking smaller pieces of the sticks and gluing them across the ends. Make the bedding for the manger using the finely cut straw or raffia. The baby doll should be naked except for swaddling him in a piece of material giving the effect of a blanket wrapped around him.

Mary can be dressed with any of the scrap materials you have accumulated and secured using ribbon. Also make sure that her head is also covered with a material head veil flowing loosely. You can secure all headdresses with a touch of hot glue.

Usually Mary is kneeling next to the manger while Joseph stands, but again, it's completely up to the person who is creating the unique creche as to how to pose the figures. The Shepherds and Kings can be arranged at your discretion and are clothed to your taste as well. However, remember that the kings were more finely clad that the Shepherd. The Shepherd should also have staffs which are made by taking the pipe cleaners and bending them at the top to form a hook.

Sheep and cows are traditionally used in nativity scenes in America but some also like to add the Lion and Lamb laying together. The wonderful thing about designing and creating your own Christmas Nativity scene or Creche is that it is personal to you and you may add or take away whatever you like.

My family and I like to add new animals, trees, birds, a star, water troughs and whatever we can come up with each year. It's a great way to talk about the Christmas story and share a blessed time with your family.

There are a multitude of ways to create a creche such as with ceramics. Wooden sculpted pieces as well as brass and pewter. Whatever medium you choose, it will be personal and beautiful.