Nativity collections on display

MORE than five hundred nativity items from seventy countries are on display in the Bridge Mall this December.

They display includes handcrafted nativity sets, real frankincense and myrrh, and coins minted around the same time as Jesus’ birth.

The idea for the exhibition came from a desire to help people understand the historical meaning behind Christmas.

“A friend of ours was in the United States and went into a Christmas shop and in the basement were three nativity sets and he thought we’d lost the plot,” said organiser Fiona Tonkin.

“Christmas is about an event that took place 2000 years ago, not just a guy in a red suit.

“When he got back, he asked his friends if they had any nativity sets and he discovered that I had about 40.”

There is a huge variety of sets ranging from more traditional pieces to figures made of car parts, chip packets and bullet casings.

“We set it up on a distinct display which tells the story from pregnant Mary to the escape to Egypt and we have nativities that are cultural from around the world,” said Ms Tonkin.

“We also have ones that are rather high class and special and children’s activities so they can play with them.”

Ms Tonkin said she hopes the display helps people see the relevance of the Christmas story today.

“Hopefully we hit their ancestral background and for children, I hope we show that it’s a universal story that matters now,” she said.

“It’s about showing that if this happened in your culture now, this is what it would look like.”

The display is open now and will end on Friday 22 December. For more information visit the Diocese of Ballarat website.