We didn’t have a nativity set when I grew up but in Saudi I came upon this strange little house made of the hard middle part of palm fronds (I never knew what its original purpose was) and I decided to make a manger scene myself.  First I made the figures out of salt dough, and then I clad them in fabrics which held memories (Mary wears a handkerchief which was given to me by a friend as a parting gift, Joseph is clad in leather which was a hair ornament from France, and so on).  The children then added animals from their toy sets (which explains the zebra to the right).

Every year a few things were added, little trinkets I found in the souqs, and particularly for the spendour of the three wise men I had to resort to items from haberdashery shops.   It has been in storage for the last years but this year I might bring them all out.  Our grandson will be with us for Christmas Eve.

Linked to A Photo a Week: Christmas memories.