Onlookers marvel at the intricate details of the Moravian village and nativity scenes displayed at the First Moravian Church on S. Elam. The village and nativity scene is known in the original German as "putz", meaning to clean or to decorate. Usually, they are found under Christmas trees in homes of people of the Moravian religion. These scenes usually depict a manger scene and its surroundings in Biblical Bethlehem.
Our local newspaper, The News and Record, featured an interesting story on the elaborate process and longstanding annual tradition of installing this scene on a little stage in our local Moravian church's fellowship hall. We selected this photo for Monochrome Weekly because it could have been taken fifty years ago in black & white; save the woman in a hoodie, the scene hasn't changed much!.
It does look as if it was taken years ago. It's nice to know that some things never change.
Posted by: hip chick | Monday, December 07, 2009 at 06:48 AM
I do comment here and there but it was the size of the thing that caused me to give up SkyWatch.
Posted by: Aileni | Monday, December 07, 2009 at 07:12 AM
I don't think I've ever scene a nativity with the whole town of Bethlehem. Very unique.
Posted by: RamblingRound | Monday, December 07, 2009 at 08:19 AM
Beautiful little scene, and nostalgic in b&w. I love those window displays! Also I learned something--'putz' means 'to clean'? I must now go putz about with my new vacuum cleaner.
Posted by: Christine | Monday, December 07, 2009 at 01:14 PM
Agreed. This is timeless and a nice testimonial in B&W.
Posted by: John McDevitt | Monday, December 07, 2009 at 03:30 PM
It really is a beautiful picture. It makes me want to be there, looking, too.
Posted by: Dina | Wednesday, December 09, 2009 at 07:03 AM
Reminds me of the department store windows we use to have in downtown Birmingham. Sadly they've all closed now. I would love to see this village in person.
V
Posted by: Virginia | Friday, December 11, 2009 at 11:20 AM