Sunday 17 December 2017

An ass is not just for Christmas


We are off for the annual Christmas shop at Lidl in a minute. Why pay more for a Panetone? Actually, there is probably an Italian artisan Panetone maker out there now with a hundred reasons why we should pay more.

This is by no means a judgemental statement, but I seem to be the only person in Blogdom not to set up a miniature crib every Christmas. Two people (no names, no pack-drill) are really the last ones I would have believed to keep a crib in their cupboards all Summer, let alone arrange it on the sideboard at Christmas.

The trouble with cribs is that they take our minds off the real meaning of Christmas.

A blacksmith friend of mine has spent two years making a full-sized donkey by welding together bits of metal. You could put it in a field and it would be very convincing from a short distance. I think he should spend another few years making animals, chickens, a couple of humans in Middle-Eastern garb and a steel baby, then set it all up on his front lawn.

Bath used to put a large nativity scene in a glass-fronted box outside the Abbey every Christmas, but it was always vandalised by drunks so they stopped. Shame, really.


23 comments:

  1. With your reversion to childhood, and looking forward to Christmas, this time next year you will be arranging your own crib figures, believe me.

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    1. I am sure you are right. I will also start going to Midnight Mass - sober.

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    2. Does anyone go to Midnight Mass sober?

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  2. When my daughter was little there were always several strawberry shortcake figures or a small dog in the crib. My grandkids added Pokemon figures. I always look forward to seeing who has made a guest appearance.

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  3. Catholic families in Italy, adults and children together, start putting up the Nativity on the 8th December which is the Immaculate Conception and a holiday. Only Mary and Joseph are put in the hut, surrounded by the ass, ox and other animals, plus the shepards. Baby Jesus is put into the manger on Christmas Eve, and only after midnight mass. The three wise men arrive on Epiphany, so are only added to the Nativity on 6th January. Only after the 6th are the Nativity and decorations put away. After this date all festivities are over, it's back to school and back to work.
    (Sorry Tom for the long comment)
    Greetings Maria x

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    1. That makes more sense to me. It should be a little tableaux with Jesus not coming on stage before his cue.

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  4. Our Nativity scene has a Wine Gum in the crib. Is that allowed?

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  5. Your pic looks like a set of the china 'beans' that are put in the marzipan cake for Epiphany. These days BVM et al have been replaced by R2D2 and Homer Simpson and their ilk. We do not have a crib.

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    1. May the Force be with you this Christmas. Doh!

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  6. Look at that. Labelled and everything. There's no cat. They always seem to slide in and find a spot, in spite of exceeding the size limits. Maybe for your friend's front yard.

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  7. Being a Humanist Tom I don't find it easy thinking of things to celebrate at Christmas - especially this year. But I am doing my best for the sake of my children, grandchildren and great grand children

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    1. Celebrate the return of the light on Solstice, or the warmth of human love and charity that's supposed to be the real spirit of Christmas! :)

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  8. No crib here...just a load of Christmas balls

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    1. Same here. I like the idea of God sending his only son down to save mankind, but I think the second coming has been cancelled.

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  9. We hardly ever put up a tree. It's more of a 'no children' thing than it is 'bah humbug!' I do sort of miss putting up the few ornaments we have, but I don't dwell on it.

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    1. H.I.'s daughter (and only child) was deprived of Christmas trees when she was growing up with her trendy parents, so now she really goes over the top with it.

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    2. Good for her! I totally relate.

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