wooden spool Nativity - circa 1970

One of my favourite Christmas traditions is putting up the Nativity scenes.

And my favourite Nativity is one that has been part of every Christmas that I can remember.


My Mum made it back in the days that our Christmas tree had gold painted egg carton decorations.  They went with the hand-me-downs from a family who decided to celebrate Christmas without trimmings and trappings.


Wooden spools, a shoe box and some scraps of material and shiny paper.

And lots of love.


I remember the material scraps - a summer romper that my brother wore, an apron made for my father, an apron I remember my mum wearing, material from reupholstering a chair, leftovers from making a lamp shade. Baby Jesus' swaddling clothes were (well washed) cloth diapers.

All put carefully sewn and glued with love.

And passed down to me when I had wee feet padding about the house.

Those padding feet have grown bigger than mine and have gone away to university.

But on a break between exams, the pink feet came home for a quick visit.

As tradition dictates, she set up the Nativity.


This Nativity, that has been part of my kids' Christmas tradition as long as they can remember.

I suppose that when there are new little feet padding around, I will pass it on.

To start a new tradition. And continue an old one.

I hope that it will go to it's new home with the same love that it came to mine.

Thanks Mum.  I love you.



6 comments

  1. That is so sweet. It reminds me of our early married days ... Only lights, home baked sugar cookies and Christmas cards on our tree.
    Merry Christmas to you and your family!
    Barbara
    Grade ONEderful
    Ruby Slippers Blog Designs

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Our first tree had lights and ornaments that I had knit.

      Enjoy your OWL this Christmas.

      Sandi

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  2. I love those. There are too many cheap ornaments around now. My own favorite are snowflake doilies starched stiff that my great aunt Anne made.

    Kimberley
    1stinmaine.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I like ornaments with history and meaning as well. There is nothing co-ordinated about our tree!

      Sandi

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