Creche - nativity scene

Since you requested that I display mine, here it is:

The buildings first:

yiu recognize the hen pen from previous post, and a traditional well.

This is a traditional home from Camargue.

Now you have a windmill and below a "borie", that is a shelter for the shepherd.

is a pigeon hen

Overview: this is 1.50 meter long (3 feet)

Now let's populate:

The fisherman and his wife, the gardian (cowboy from Arles and the Arlesienne (the lady from Arles) and the Tambourinaire (traditionnal drum player)

some farmers and old ladies chatting at the well

Of course, the Mayor and the Priest, and again old ladies bringing food

Gypsies: they too are linked to Arles, more precisely to Les Saintes Maries, a town on the sea where the three Maries are said to have landed. Gypsies held festival in Les Saintes Maries every year.

Overview:

The beautiful creches are made with building and santons of different sizes, to give an idea of perspective.

The Provencal Creche represents all the little people going to celebrate the Nativity. All activities are represented, and they revert to the 18th century. Now you can find more contemporary figures, like actors who have celebrated the Provence, but most of them are from the past. Traditional santons are made of red clay, during the winter months when the farmers had some spare time. (that's the way the lady with the olive tree works) You can buy them painted or bare. Mine Are 10 cm high (4"), those are tall ones for painted santons. You can also find all sorts of animal, food, etc...

I've just found this blog Provence Crèches I know most of you don't speak French, and even less Provencal (nor do I), but the pictures are worth the look.