No season or holiday has caused the creation of so many porcelain figurines as Christmas. There are religious figurines and those related to the secular traditions that surround this important holiday. The variety of subjects is ever expanding, like the universe, as more and more songs and movies introduce new subjects for the porcelain and other figurine manufacturers.
The most visible figurines produced for Christmas are the Nativity sets. These may number from three to over twenty figures, depending on the portion of the Christmas story being told and how many citizens of Bethlehem are included. Mary, Jesus and Joseph are the main characters, and frequently a donkey in included. Shepherds and sheep come next as onlookers, and then the three wise men and their transportation, sometimes camels and sometimes horses. An ox may represent the stable occupants. Then one to half a dozen angels may be included as participants. For very large creche sets, where the figures are dressed in non-traditional costumes for the original time and place, local citizens may be included in the scene.
Often a single piece of porcelain portrays Joseph, Mary and Jesus in a stable-like enclosure. These can be ornaments meant to be hung on a Christmas tree, or a free standing decoration like one of the three-in-one Lladro Nativity sets. Although almost all porcelain makers have a nativity set, some are more famous for other Christmas figures. An all child Nativity with Hummel figurines may be cute, but the Hummel collectibles most people prefer are the angels. The angel choirs are much better, somehow, than the child creche. I am not alone in this opinion as I have a set of Hummel-like plastic angels closely copied from the real Hummels. Imitation is the highest form of praise.
New or vintage Christmas figurines may portray Santa Claus in the traditional clothing of any of his manifestations, or in a modern national or ethnic costumes. Mrs. Claus shows up occasionally as a Christmas figurine. There are many porcelain reindeer and even an occasional sleigh can be found made of porcelain. Trees, holly leaves and berries, ivy, mistletoe and all the other plant materials that have come to be connected to the end of year celebrations can also be found in porcelain, intentionally made for Christmas or as representations of the plants. The poinsettia is one of those found for its own sake as well as its inclusion in Christmas traditions.
Porcelain makers revel in the opportunity to create whole villages with Christmas village figurines. Buildings, trees, vehicles, children, dogs, ice skaters, the list is long. Most of the buildings have built-in lights to give warmth to the tableau. Christmas carolers figurines are included in the village collections and as a separate ornament since caroling represents the Victorian Christmas, as does the Christmas tree surrounded by toys.
Once all the major players and places are covered, you can branch out into other areas of Christmas porcelain collectibles. There are the elves and the toy factory at the North Pole. Gingerbread people and fake popcorn are available to represent tree decorations from the past. Geese have a prominent place on some people’s holiday dinner table, and so Christmas geese figurines are available, along with ducks, and the pig and turkey pointing at the other salt and pepper shakers.
Many objects have become part of Christmas by the making of Christmas tree ornaments. These include sports gear, hobby equipment, professional insignia and tools, almost all the animals, the plants listed above and more, modes of transportation, and imaginary animals and persons. If it exists in someone’s imagination, it has probably been made as a Christmas ornaments in porcelain, glass, wood or plastic.
The size of your collection of Christmas figurines is only as large or small as your resources permit, resources including not only money, but storage space and the time and energy to put up and take down these treasures every year. But they make our hearts glad, so it is worth all the costs.
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