The boxes of ornaments we use for our Christmas tree pales in comparison to what Juana has stored for her nativity or el Nacimento. Countless numbers of carefully wrapped and delicate heirlooms are pulled from the attic and put aside to be revealed after the Christmas tree is decorated.
And while the Christmas tree can be put together in a good afternoon or evening, the nativity takes the better part of a week.
Our family mixes the Germanic Christmas tree tradition with that of the Spanish one concerning the birth of Jesus. But it is quite open to interpretation as to how it is constructed.
Ours has grown substantially over time starting as a tiny table top manger to one that requires a raised plywood platform and supporting boxes.
Juana takes a world view of it starting on one side in the snowy mountains, moving toward small towns along a river to large cities and finally to the manger where Jesus was born.
She incorporates many natural elements into her design from tree burls, to pine and spruce cones, to other bits that interest her. It is a work of art and love. Over the weekend both of our grandchildren pitched in.
And that is what make it so special.
Merry Christmas!
