An unusual Christmas nativity scene constructed from water-smoothed pebbles and including the Three Maji, or Wise Men, recently caught my attention. While visiting Munich, Germany, I came across a large display with rocks from the Isar River, which flows through the city, used to make the participants in the scene. The display goes by the apt name Isarkieselkrippe – the Isar pebble nativity scene. I studied it for quite a while, knowing that finding appropriately sized river rocks in the recognizable shapes of many figures, including the Three Maji bearing gifts, a shepherd with a flock of sheep, Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus, must have been challenging. It is an appealing display — especially for a geologist!

In a previous blog post, I wrote about my fascination with the Maji and their journey to give gifts to the baby Jesus (see Gifts and Myths of the Maji). The three are typically part of classic nativity scenes — the seasonal displays that represent the birth of Jesus. I learned a few interesting facts about those scenes, and found lots of photos, with the help of Wikipedia/Wikimedia (tremendous sources of information — I donate monthly to help keep these important projects running).

The characters in nativity scenes typically include farm animals, especially a donkey and an ox, as described in the Gospel of Luke. The Maji and their camels are usually included also, as described in the Gospel of Matthew. Some nativity scenes include a representation of the Star of Bethlehem. (I wrote about this in a previous post: Comets and the Christmas Star.)

Distinctive seasonal nativity scenes are being created all around the world. In scrolling through photos, it amused me to find the newspaper creations below. Besides the rock and paper characters (scissors used to create the latter), many other examples of this art form caught my eye. I include photos of some of those that especially appeal to me, below, and hope you also enjoy them.

Wishing you and yours happy holidays — and a New Year that brings peace!

Christmas nativity scene with the Three Maji by Flavmi, 2017 (Wikimedia)

 

Wood characters in nativity scene in Třebíč District, Czech Republic, by Jiri Sedlacek, 2020 (Wikimedia)

 

Nativity scene with the Three Maji from Santuario di Oropa, Biella, Italy, by Mattis, 2013 (Wikimedia)

 

Three Maji in the nativity scene at Saint Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican, by Dguendel, 2015 (Wikipedia)

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SOURCES
My photos of the Isarkieselkrippe in Munich, Germany, 2023.
Photo of paper characters in nativity scene, by Flavmi, 2017. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Christmas_crib_at_the_exhibition.jpg
Photo of wood characters in nativity scene in Třebíč District, Czech Republic, by Jiri Sedlacek, 2020.  https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Overview_of_wood_nativity_scene_at_Martinsk%C3%A9_n%C3%A1m%C4%9Bst%C3%AD_in_T%C5%99eb%C3%AD%C4%8D,_T%C5%99eb%C3%AD%C4%8D_District.jpg
Photo of nativity scene from Chiesa Nuova, Santuario di Oropa, Biella, Piedmont, Italy, by Mattis, 2013.   https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Biella,_Santuario_di_Oropa_-_Chiesa_Nuova_-_Nativity_scene_016.JPG
Photo of the Three Maji in the nativity scene at Saint Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican, by Dguendel, 2015.    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nativity_scene#/media/File:Vatikan,_Petersdom,_die_Weihnachtskrippe.JPG