Tacoma's Festival of the Nativity

As some of you may know, I'm a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I'm not trying to convert anyone, but I would like to show how the Tacoma Stake keeps Christ in Christmas every year.

They were hoping for one thousand, but the last count revealed 962. That's right. On December 3, 2011, nine hundred and sixty-two Nativities were displayed at the fourth annual Festival of the Nativity at the Tacoma Stake Center in Tacoma, Washington. You don't have to be a Mormon to attend or participate in the festival. Anyone who had a Nativity that he or she wanted to display was invited to bring his/her set to the church several days in advance.

The Nativities came from all parts of the world, including Mexico, Peru, Argentina, Italy and the Philippines. Miniature replicas of Celtic stone carvings represented Ireland. A crystal set came from the Czech Republic.

The Children's Christmas Choir sang Christmas caroles. After the performance, church leaders put on a scavenger hunt in which the children had to answer questions about individual Nativities among the hundreds that filled the church. Can you identify who played Baby Jesus in the Nativity featuring Charlie Brown and Peanuts?

There were many hand-crafted Nativities. Tiny Nativity figures were carved into a small gourd. A set was made from wooden spoons. Another was made of marshmallows. One lady from the church made a quilt adorned with the holy family and the animals in the manger.

There was also a live Nativity scene.

Toward the end of the festival, families were invited to dress up as the characters from the Nativity. A photographer took photos of them in a manger scene. Here's a photo of my daughter, Kate, portraying the Virgin Mary. My youngest daughter, Korinna, and my granddaughter, Alyson, dressed up as angels.

Happy holidays to all!

P.S. Woodstock played Baby Jesus in the Peanuts Nativity.