New Items Christmas Ornaments Collectibles Christmas Lights Christmas Trees Personalized Items Outdoor Décor Nativity Scenes Christmas Stockings Garland and Wreaths Seasonal Items Bronner's Souvenirs Advent Calendars Santa Suits and Hats Home & Holiday Décor Tree Accessories Gifts Sale Items About Bronner's Product Index	Home > Religious Ornaments > Religious Home Décor And Gift Items > Nativity Scenes In the early twelfth century, the word creche was used to describe the birthplace of Christ. The term was coined after Saint Francis of Assisi celebrated Midnight Mass in a stable where men and animals reenacted the Christmas story. The creche, derived from the German word krippe or crib, refers to the animals manger in which Christ was born. It later became known as the place of the Nativity, or the Nativity. The Nativity scene joins together Mary, Joseph, the baby Jesus, shepherds, angels, and on Epiphany the Wise Men. Bronner's CHRISTmas Wonderland is pleased to present several beautiful Nativity scenes in hopes that families around the world will always be reminded of the miracle that took place in a lowly stable. Seraphim Angel Nativity Water Globe Jim Shore Nativity Angel Candle Warmer Jim Shore Nativity Candle Warmer Nativity Verse Candle Holder Nativity Wall Plaque Bronner's Merry CHRISTmas Nativity Button Exclusive Department 56 Nativity Figure The Nativity Story Beaded Bracelet Gold Nativity on Blue Ornament Holy Family Gold on Blue Silhouette Ornament 12 Piece Miniature Nativity Ornament Set Blessed Christmas Bell Ornament Nut-Shell With Nativity Fontanini® Holy Family Glass Ornament Angel With Nativity Scene Ornament Jim Shore Nativity Scene Angel Figurine Nativity Santa Hand-Carved Figure Mary And Jesus Peace On Earth Ornament Mary And Jesus Ornament Nativity Cross Ornament 3-D Tiered Wooden Nativity Scene Jim Shore Nativity Scene Cross Ornament Jim Shore Nativity Star Ornament Cloisonné Nativity Ornament Holy Family Glass Ornament Holy Family Glass Ornament Holy Family Ornament Nativity Set of 5 Nesting Dolls Nativity Scene Set of 7 Nesting Dolls Acrylic Holy Family Night Light Nativity Disk Shimmer Night Light Hand Crafted Wooden Nativity Stable Hand Crafted Wooden Nativity Stable Hand Crafted Wooden Nativity Stable Hand Crafted Wooden Nativity Stable Wooden Stable Hand Crafted Wooden Nativity Stable Hand Crafted Wooden Nativity Stable Hand Crafted Wooden Nativity Stable Hand Crafted Wooden Nativity Stable Hand Crafted Wooden Nativity Stable Hand Crafted Wooden Nativity Stable Hand Crafted Wooden Nativity Stable Hand Crafted Wooden Nativity Stable 7½" Fontanini 8 Piece Nativity Scene Nativity Set Of 19 Figures 5" Collection Nativity Set Of 19 Figures 5" Collection 7 Piece Nativity Set Drummer Boy, Camel, And Palm Tree Jim Shore Figurine Miniature Jim Shore Nativity Set Jim Shore Nativity Set Blue Jim Shore Nativity Stable Jim Shore Large Wisemen Set Jim Shore Large Shepherd Set Jim Shore Large Holy Family Set Jim Shore Hanging Angel With Book Blessed Night Jim Shore Holy Family Set Rejoice Jim Shore Shepherd Figure Jim Shore Wiseman With Gift Of Love Jim Shore Wiseman With Gift Of Caring Jim Shore Wiseman With Gift Of Hope Wiseman Three Piece Jim Shore Set Winter Whisper Holy Family 3 Piece Set Nativity Willow Tree® Figurines The Christmas Story Willow Tree® Nativity Figurines The Christmas Story Willow Tree® Sanctuary Holy Family Earthenware Come Let Us Adore Him Precious Moments Figurines (3 Piece Nativity) Single Palm Tree Gold Guardian Angel Nativity Holy Family Tri-Fold Nativity 11 Piece Boxed Nativity Set Miniature Plastic Nativity Set 10 Piece Resin Nativity Set Shelf Sitter Nativity Scene Figure Tabletop Nativity Scene Figure 6 Piece Resin Nativity Set 11 Piece Holy Night Nativity Set Holy Family Figure Illuminated Holy Family Water Globe Palm Tree Nativity Water Globe Brush Nativity 9 Piece Iron Nativity Set 13 Piece Wood Carved Russian Nativity Set African American Ceramic Nativity African American Children's Nativity Scene 5" Fontanini® Nativity 5" Fontanini® Nativity Accessories 7½" Fontanini® Nativity 7½" Fontanini® Nativity Accessories 12" Fontanini® Nativity Collection Lighted Plastic 10 Pc Childlike Nativity Set Lighted Plastic Life-Size Nativity Collection White Marble Lighted Plastic Nativity Collection Traditional Lighted Plastic Nativity Collection Lighted Ornamental Nativity Lighted Holographic Silkscreen Nativity Scene Lighted Holographic Wisemen Set Holographic Nativity With Manger Silhouette 6' Inflatable Nativity Snow Globe Wire-Frame Angel Lighted Silhouette Shape Wire-Frame Kneeling Shepherd Lighted Silhouette Shape Wire-Frame Shepherd With 2 Sheep Lighted Silhouette Shape Wire-Frame Wisemen Silhouette Shape Wire-Frame Individual Sheep Wire-Frame Camel Lighted Silhouette Shape Wire-Frame Donkey Lighted Silhouette Shape Wire-Frame Nativity Lighted Silhouette Shape Wire-Frame Stable Lighted Silhouette Shape Wire-Frame Star Of Bethlehem Lighted Silhouette Shape In the early twelfth century, the word crèche was used to describe the birthplace of Christ. The term was coined after Saint Francis of Assisi celebrated Midnight Mass in a stable where men and animals reenacted the Christmas story. The crèche, derived from the German word krippe or crib, refers to the animals’ manger in which Christ was born. It later became known as the place of the Nativity, or the Nativity. The Nativity scene joins together Mary, Joseph, the baby Jesus, shepherds, angels, and on Epiphany, the Wise Men. Bronner's CHRISTmas Wonderland is pleased to present several beautiful Nativity scenes in hopes that families around the world will always be reminded of the miracle that took place in a lowly stable. Nativity sets are an important part of the Christmas celebration at Bronner’s, whose motto is “Enjoy CHRISTmas, it’s HIS Birthday; Enjoy LIFE, it’s His way.” Over 500 styles of Nativity scenes are available at Bronner’s. This includes Advent calendars, ornaments, lighted product and more as well as the traditional Nativity sets. Each decorated tree at Bronner’s includes a Nativity ornament. Now over 500 Nativities from 59 plus nations are part of the Bronner family’s personal collection on display in the program center. Bronner’s features Nativity sets from the Fontanini®, Hummel®, Willow Tree®, and Precious Moments® collectible lines. Fontanini® Nativity figures are available in 5-inch, 7½-inch, and 12-inch sizes. You can also choose from a variety of stables to house your Nativity set. Specialty sets offer lighted and/or musical stables; one is even animated. A variety of Nativity accessories, including animals and palm trees, are available. Eddie and Jane Beyerlein of Frankenmuth handcraft a number of the Nativity stables available at Bronner’s. Eddie retired from Bronner’s after 46 years with the business. Masterfully handcrafted from wood and artfully detailed with shimmering paints by Russian artisans, beautiful sets of nesting dolls depict the real reason for the season. Sets vary; dolls may include Joseph, Mary, a Wiseman, a shepherd, an angel, and Baby Jesus. Life-size and near life-size Nativity sets for your outdoor display are made to weather the elements. Lighted plastic and white marble lighted plastic are available as well as an ultra-bright, lighted wire silhouettes. Back in the 1950s, Bronner’s distributed a life-size and half life-size, latex Nativity set produced by Mold-craft in Port Washington, Wisconsin. In the early ’60s, a disastrous fire burned the entire Mold-craft factory. Only hand-carved wooden Nativity sets or statuary marble or plaster Nativity sets were available in the larger sizes. Many of them were not ideal for outdoor use and were very expensive. Because of their belief that a Nativity scene, especially an outdoor one, serves as a visual witness to remind viewers of the significance of CHRISTmas, the Bronner’s wanted to be able to offer a life-size, outdoor Nativity set that would be more affordable. For a time, Bronner’s CHRISTmas Wonderland sold a fiberglass Nativity set produced by George Tirone Studios in Boston. Still, it was Wally Bronner’s dream to offer a life-size, moderately priced Nativity set that would have the Christ child molded right into the manger to prevent the removal of the Christ child as a prank. Wally also wanted life-size, standing camels and wisemen to complete the set, and he wanted their garments and accessories to be molded into each piece. The Bronner dream was realized in 1969 when a life-size, 17-figure, fiberglass Nativity set was developed in cooperation with two Italian artists and sculptors, George Tirone and Luigi Mucci, from the Boston area. Wally patented the fiberglass molds to preserve their uniqueness and identify them as Bronner exclusives. The first complete set was sold to a volunteer church group for the Hastings, Michigan, city park. Wally Bronner and salesman Jim Gilbert served as speakers at the dedication. After a Tirone Studio fire in the mid-’70s destroyed Bronner’s exclusive molds, John DeStefano and Sons from Woburn, Massachusetts, re-sculpted the figures and continued their production. In the mid-’90s, the DeStefano studios discontinued business and Bronner’s began handling the production of the fiberglass Nativity sets, with the actual painting of the figures taking place at Bronner’s.
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