I come from a pretty secular family, but when it comes to Christmas, we embrace traditional holiday decor. Our hand-carved windmill nativity scene, passed down through so many Germanic generations that its origin is no longer known, is a permanent fixture all through December. Here are five of our favorite nativity scenes on at different ends of the modernity spectrum.
Above: The 11-piece Modern Nativity Set is made from engraved maple, cherry, and walnut hardwoods and finished with beeswax and jojoba oil; $66 from Little Sapling Toys on Etsy.
Above: Designed by Sebastian Bergne, the contemporary Colour Nativity represents each character based on proportion, color, and place in composition; £85 directly from Sebastian Bergne in the UK.
Above: The Simple Six-Piece Wooden Nativity Scene is handmade with a scroll saw in Wentzville, Missouri, and is $28 from Oh Look It's a Rabbit on Etsy.
Above: The über-secular Minimalist Nativity Set by Berlin-based artist Oliver Fabel is available for €23.50 from Bauhaus Shop.
Above: As it turns out, Erzgebirge, Germany is considered the capital of traditional pyramid nativity scenes. This handmade Pyramid Windmill Nativity Scene was made in the 1970s and is $89 from Mister True on Etsy. For a similar nativity scene, visit Erzgebirge Palace.
N.B.: Looking for holiday decor and gift ideas? See 207 House Gifts for the holidays.