More Than a Nativity: A Bethlehem Built With Love

Nativities come in all shapes and sizes. From blow-mold Jesus, Mary & Joseph sets, or intricate hand-carved works of art, to Peanuts characters portraying wise men and shepherds, and everything in between. They're all special in their own way, but none of them holds a candle to Sharon Cravens Weber's Fontanini.

My mother has the most beautiful and impressive collection I have ever seen. It isn't just a regular nativity, it's the whole entire town of Bethlehem! She doesn't have every Fontanini piece ever made, but I bet she comes close. Some of them are specific characters with their names stamped on the bottom.

Fontanini was established in 1908 in Bagni di Lucca. All of the figurines are hand-painted with incredible detail. They are made from resin and come in various sizes. Being basically unbreakable, I used to play with them when I was little. Moving around the characters and making up my own stories.

Roman soldiers, kids fishing in a creek, the town potter, little drummer boy, and so much more. However, she started with just the "main characters" in 1976. My grandparents, Buddy & Lucy Katherine, gave her the holy family trio as a wedding gift. My dad built her a stable and started helping her build a collection.

Get our free mobile app

When I came along ten years later, for every birthday, anniversary, Christmas, and even for no reason at all, my Dad would take me to Spurrier's to pick out a new figure or prop. Mr. & Mrs. Spurrier would help us keep track of what mom had already or what was on her wishlist. I LOVED shopping for her there.

Mom and Dad both found new additions at the Christmas stores in Santa Claus, IN, Branson, MO, and Gatlinburg, TN. There aren't too many places you can buy them in person anymore. Especially new releases. Although she found a beautiful king's tent at Dillard's just last week.

Over the years, as the nativity grew, my mom would come up with new and creative ways to display her beautiful collection. My dad built her stable upgrades, custom platforms, and one year, he even made a huge table with levels and a ramp that took up half the living room! Eventually, it became a huge ordeal to set everything up and then take it down again.

Problem solved! Now, she has it displayed all year long in a beautiful lighted curio cabinet. Here is a video from bottom to top.

@mkabooom My sweet mama doesn’t just have a regular nativity, she has the whole town of Bethlehem! #christmas #christmasdecor #nativity #holidays #jesus ♬ Carol of the Bells8008 - Aura Classica

Isn't that amazing?! It's a lifetime of love and dedication, really.  So much more than a Christmas decoration. Sharon's precious "Little Town of Bethlehem." (with help from Jerry.)