Christmas Crib

Since his childhood, since 1945, my father builds christmas cribs. This hobby hasn't left him anytime. In the beginning the figures where selfmade of plaster.

The second version of the crib was made of pappmaché, which allowed finer characters. The ancient Hans Schmitt, known as "Berchhandla", has done it in the 1920s. Even the sencond version of the crib has buildings, which my father has made by himself.

In the year 1964 my father found a crib friend of the same kind with Hans Doerfler from Eggolsheim. He gave him the first figures made of carved wood, first from the Kroettental, then from Oberammergau. Today the figures came still from there.

The character of the figures is protected by law, it must not be copied or recarved. And there not only ox and donkey! You can also see preachers, traders, sheepers, angels, and even roman soldiers. It is a densely populated country!

The crib will be rebuilded once and once again, according to the bible history. The Exodus out of Egypt, the people's counting, the journey of the Holy Three Kings, we build all details.

Here you can see "The Annunciation". The biblical story of The Annunciation is one that is very appropriate for Mother's Day, May:  Mary's Month,  and for March 25th-Feast of the Annunciation or anytime of the year. The event of The Annunciation is a major turning point and relevant to Christians.  In the Old Testament God made a covenant with the children of Israel.  In the New Testament we read about the "New" covenant God brings to all people.  The new covenant, or promise, is about Jesus:  His birth, life, death and resurrection, and how He brings hope to people all over the world. 

Luke 1:26-38
n the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you."

A typical city scene. A trader does his business, later the young jesus will expel them from the temple.