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Christmas in Africa Nativity Giraffe I began collecting nativities in the late 90s. As an Air Force wife, I had friends from many cultures. One Christmas, a friend placed several nativities out for display. They were not the standard type of nativities I was used to seeing. They came from various countries she had visited, and also reflected her multi racial family. I remember being captivated by them all, but one particular set caught my eye. It was from Africa and among the animals was a giraffe!

I began searching for a similar set with no luck. Over the years I purchased many nativities, always watching for the elusive giraffe. Finally, almost 25 years later, I found a beautiful hand carved nativity from Africa, with a giraffe! You can see the whole set here.



Collectible Nativities
Collectible Nativities

Nativities from companies like Enesco, Fenton, and Willow Tree are specifically made to appeal to collectors. Collectible figurines are sometimes marked with serial numbers, dates, designers, or other identifying information, and packaging can include certificates of authenticity or registration cards.


Cultural Nativities
Cultural Nativities

Cultural nativities reflect the lifestyle and culture of the area they come from. Many are handmade from materials found locally, such as banana fibers from Africa or huamanga stone from Peru.


Vintage Nativities
Vintage Nativities

This category contains an assortment of nativities dated from the 1990's and earlier.


Contemporary Nativities
Contemporary Nativities

This group encompasses everything that is not covered by the other three categories. They are not marked with identifying information or marketed as collectibles. They are mass produced, but do not necessarily depict the country they were produced in. They range in date from newly produced to older items that aren't quite vintage yet. These nativities can move into other categories as they age and/or develop a following among collectors in the secondary market.


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