ra/J FOR ALL WHO LOVE , OWN OR COLLECT CRECHES The Newsletter of the Christmas Nativity
Vol. 3, No. 1
Spring 1999
The Millennium ls Creche Time
ZENGERCRECHES ILLUSTRATENEWBOOK
Think of it. The approaching Millennium is really OUR celebration-the holiday of those of us who love, own or collect the Christmas Nativity. Two thousand years since the Holy Night in Bethlehem. Others may argue as to whether the Millennium begins with the year 2000 or 2001. My personal feeling is that the longer the celebration, the longer we have to enjoy and meditate upon that first Christmas.
Imagine the thrill of seeing a few of your favorite Nativity sets in stunning full-color serve as illustrations for a beautiful book on the Nativity. That experience happened to Holly Zenger, Midway, Utah, whose creches appear in a hardcover gift-worthy edition. The book is The Christmas Creche by Elaine Cannon (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1998), a slim cross-generational volume of inspirational writings suitable for young children as well as adults. Photographs of Zenger's creches accompany short, thoughtful reflections on the spiritual as well as material features of the Nativity. A variety of Nativities is shown, ranging from a carved olive wood set from the Holy Land to a soapstone Eskimo work from Alaska. The Christmas Creche is available for $17.50, including postage, a 20% discount off the regular retail price for Creche Herald readers. Contact Holly Zenger at P.O. Box 1268, 275 Luzern Road, Midway, UT 84049-1268 or email: HOLLYZEN@aol.com.
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Before leaving for a whirlwind trip through southern Italy in December (where, by the way, it was unusually cold) we drew the names for the Nativity gifts shown in our Fall issue. This drawing was among those who had purchased one or more gift subscriptions . Winner of the graceful ten-piece blue and white porcelain Nativity set from the Cathedral in Beijing, China, was Holly Zenger of Midway, Utah. Those winning the small charming Magi displays from China were Martha Rogers, White Bear Lake, Minnesota; Mary Chastain, Tampa, Florida; Gay Graeber, Oxford, Mississippi, and Dr. Eileen Canty, Marion, Massachusetts.
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Need your best thoughts!!! Several readers have suggested starting a Creche Society on this side of the Atlantic. In many European countries, these organized groups operate under the auspices of the Universalis Foederatio Praesepistica (International Association of Friends of the Creche) with headquarters in Rome, Italy. The local groups hold meetings and creche related events in their own regions on an annual basis, and then all get together every four years. Tell me what you think of the idea. Would you participate? Would you consider starting and heading a local chapter? How do you think it should work? Write to Creche Herald, 117 Crosshill Road, Wynnewood, PA 19096-3 511, USA, or e-mail me at: crecher(cil,op.nel.
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The Millennium in Spain. The International Creche Convention will be in Pamplona, Spain, October 11-15, 2000. If you are interested in possible group travel, please write or e-mail as above. Or we can just plan to meet an evening in Pamplona. Rita Bacher, Publisher
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Sterling silver accents this Italian bisque porcelain creche. The Baby wears a Victorian style nightcap. Photograph from The Christmas Creche ( c) 1998 Bookcraft, Salt Lake City, Utah. Creche from the private collection of Holly Zenger. Used by permission.