Put Baby Jesus down!

[Kathi OD]

Just thought I'd let you all know, I've had a good laugh reading your experiences w/ children and Nativity sets.

Thanks, and Merry Christmas!

 

[mickeywho?]

My DS9 still calls ours the "activity scene" not "nativity scene". Baby Jesus has had many adventures over the years. A few chips and cracks in a lot of the figures now..but what fun they've all had!
Has anyone seen the Mr Bean Christmas special when he's playing with the set at Harrod's - even the Daleks got in on the fun until the army men chased them away!

 

[paintnolish]

My mom used to call it an "activity" scene instead of a nativity scene since my little sister used to move them around and play with them!

 

[golfgal]

My cat liked to sit in the middle of the nativity scene that we would display. We would call her "kitty in the manger". All these stories remind me of a Christmas letter I once received from former students of mine. The children were a set of fraternal twins. While the family was decorating for Christmas the kids decided to set up the nativity scene. The kids were about 4 y/o. The sister tells her brother to go find Baby Jesus. So the brother ran through the house looking for "Baby Cheezits". That is the hardest I ever laughed over a Christmas card ever!

DD came home from kindergarten one day and was telling us about the "juice people" they learned about in school. It took us a LONG time to figure out that they were doing a lesson on JEWISH people

 

[mickaholic4077]

I love all these stories!! They are so precious. Keep 'em coming!!

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

Ok, I don't feel so bad now. I bought DS3 the Fisher Price nativity set and he has had a great time playing with "Baby Jason and the Fairy" (that would be Baby Jesus and the angel). Guess we need to read the Christmas story a few times so he gets the names correct!

 

[Katieinwonderland]

For Christmas last year, my 3 year old nephew came down to Disney for the first time for the weekend with his parents, then we all spent Christmas at my in-laws. DH's uncle is a Catholic priest and was talking to DNephew about the nativity scene. He was holding up figures and asking if he knew who they were - when he held up the angel, DNephew's face lit up and he said "I know who that is, that's tinkerbell!"

 

[superme80]

For Christmas last year, my 3 year old nephew came down to Disney for the first time for the weekend with his parents, then we all spent Christmas at my in-laws. DH's uncle is a Catholic priest and was talking to DNephew about the nativity scene. He was holding up figures and asking if he knew who they were - when he held up the angel, DNephew's face lit up and he said "I know who that is, that's tinkerbell!"

 

[C&G'sMama]

This thread has given me much appreciated giggles today.

My DD had a play set and it came with the Christmas story and when she was 2 or 3 every night during advent, she'd act out the story. She'd put all the figures behind the stable and when it was time for Mary to ride out on a donkey she'd put her on donkey and take her to the stable. It brings back great memories.

 

[emer95]

All of these stories are adorable!

Before I share my manger stories, I feel like I must add this disclaimer:

**We are devout Christians**

When my daughter was little, she called Baby Jesus' parents "Mommy and Jo-fiss." I still call them that occasionally.

Everybody loves the manger at my mother's house. Her baby Jesus is so cute and nakey. Despite her warnings not to touch him, one day he disappeared. We searched high and low, but he was no where to be found. In a sudden burst of inspiration, I checked the jail of the old Fisher Price castle that was mine when I was little- you know which one I'm talking about? There he was- in jail! And he was stuck (both of his arms are outstretched, you know)! It took some manuevering, but I finally set him free. There was a hushed silence and my mother asked in horror, "Who put baby Jesus in jail?" My 4-year old niece burst into tears. She was the obvious culprit!

Also (I can't believe I'm admitting this) when my sister and I were pre-teens, the angels, who were very pretty, might have made out with some of the wisemen. And some of the paint that was on their lips might have rubbed onto the wiseman's lips, and might still be there. Oh, and a shepard, too. But they stayed away from Jo-fiss. This is a holy place, after all.

 

[mrodgers]

Oh yeah--no nativity scene is complete without Luke Skywalker and a couple of dinosaurs!

Toys in a manger scene?

Never knew this until now either. From the close-up shot, it appears Baby Jesus had a sibling too.... And look how happy the proud parents look....

 

[SandrA9810]

I used to play with the nativity scene growing up as well. I don't think any one got added to the scene, but I used to put it up for as long as I can remember.

I did however make a village scene out of legos one year. That sat under the Christmas tree with the train going around it.

 

[Nancy]

These stories are so cute. My kids never touched my nativity for some reason that was one of the few times they actually did as they were told.

My nativity set is Precious Moments..and the girls were told at a very young age (repeatedly too) that they are not to touch my Precious Moments. One Christmas when my nephew was over he started to touch one of the figurines and my oldest told him not to touch Mommy's movements.

 

[tinkerbellfan6880]

My DS9 still calls ours the "activity scene" not "nativity scene". Baby Jesus has had many adventures over the years. A few chips and cracks in a lot of the figures now..but what fun they've all had!
Has anyone seen the Mr Bean Christmas special when he's playing with the set at Harrod's - even the Daleks got in on the fun until the army men chased them away!

I have seen that Mr. Bean Christmas special. I laugh my head off every time I see it. I love when gets caught at the end by the salesperson.

 

[NHdisneylover]

Oh these are great stories

We have a tradition NOT to put baby Jesus into the manger until Christmas Eve after we get home from Mass.

Us too growing up, now I'm wondering if it was to stop us playing
I always didn't like that tradition, so I let my kids have baby Jesus when we unpack the Christmas stuff~
I love all the added manger toys pps are posting!

My in-laws have the same tradition. Apparently my mother in law would tuck the baby Jesus "hidden" behind the manger when she set it up. THE game of the advent season among DH and his four siblings was to be the person to find him and rehide him on a daily basis. Anywhere in the public areas of the house that everyone could reach was fair game, but DMiL made them promise they would remember WHERE he was hidden so he could be retrieved in time to make his appearance in the manger.

 

[smschex]

The only spanking my grandmother ever gave me was when I dropped Baby Jesus in the toilet!

I loved that nativity set and even now (40 years later!) I set it up every year with my own kids. Granted it is missing the ox my sister sat on when she was about 4 and the shepherd has had his head glued on a few times, but it isn't Christmas until we have put Baby Jesus in his little wooden manger--yes my grandmother fished him out and he has been with us ever since!

 

[HM]

Since you love your ceramic set, to keep it safe, just don't use it until the kids are old enough to know better than play with it (or put it up high). For now, just put out the plastic set.

 

[Erin1700]

I should have added...

my DS3 also calls the angels 'butterblies'. And over at the mall we have (but never go to) a 'Chuck e Jesus'.

 

[Rora]

Too cute!!

When I was little I used to carry around Baby Jesus or the Donkey all season. My poor mother.

 

[Rora]

I should have added...

my DS3 also calls the angels 'butterblies'. And over at the mall we have (but never go to) a 'Chuck e Jesus'.

What on Earth is that?!