The Original Swedish Angel Chimes
In earlier days, My Growing Traditions always carried Swedish Angel Chimes.
In 2009 the Swedish factory shut down. They were unable to turn a profit with Swedish wages. We were all a little bit sad, used to working with the Swedish company - Anderson & Boberg - that had been in business since 1948. We had heard that the entire factory (equipment, designs, etc.) had moved within Europe - from Sweden to Turkey. Production resumed and now we have checked them out. The new "Original Swedish Angel Chimes" are, indeed, the authentic Swedish Angel Chimes - the exact, traditional Swedish quality - from the chimes themselves to the Box art design.
And, we are happy to report that now we have the "Original Swedish Angel Chimes" back in stock. With an Angel playing a horn finial, a decorative turbine, and made of brass plated steel the Chimes stand 12" High and have a diameter of 5". They come with four white candles and we offer Replacement candles - Click here for: Box of 20 4" Replacement candles sold separately in either red or white.
As the heat from the candles rises, the Angels spin and joyfully ring the chimes.
A part of American Christmas traditions for over 50 years.
New for 2014 - Carbonel Santons Octopus Fisherman - Pécheur au poulpe - Size #2
Every year the Marcel Carbonel Santons workshop in Marseille creates new Santons. 2014 brings a charming Octopus Fisherman - Pécheur au poulpe - Size #2 - the Elite size.
The Octopus Fisherman is one of many Carbonel Fishermen. They make many anglers and fishermen with nets, but craft the Octopus Fisherman only in two sizes: the new one, in Size #2, and the other in Size #3, the Grande Size, seen here in this photograph of the finished Santon next to one newly molded, but yet to be fired or painted.
The Fisherman is number 16 on the list of the top 20 Essential Santons for a Provençal Creche. He is a pivotal figure in Provence, whether he works with his nets in the sea, or, as an angler, casting his pole into a local stream. As a Santon, his origin is in the early nativity plays and creche-parlant. Foremost, he is a classic figure of the Port of Marseille and its very important fishing trade of the Mediterranean.
An integral part of Marseille's heritage, the Fish Market (Marché aux Poissons) is held on the quai des Belges on the Old Port. It is small, but ever so lively (the outspoken Fishwife being apocraphyl)
- buy the catch of the day fresh off the boat and have it weighed and cleaned for you while you wait. This is where the locals buy their fish for the day's bouillabaisse.
Bouillabaisse (click here for a traditional Marseille Bouillabaisse recipe) is all about that catch of the day. The word bouillabaisse comes from "the Provençal Occitan word bolhabaissa, a compound that consists of the two verbs bolhir (to boil) and abaissar (to reduce heat, i.e., simmer). Bouillabaisse originally was a stew made by Marseille fishermen using the bony rockfish which they were unable to sell to restaurants or markets. There are at least three kinds of fish in a traditional bouillabaisse: typically red rascasse (Scorpaena scrofa); sea robin (fr: grondin); and European conger (fr: congre). It can also include gilt-head bream (fr: dorade); turbot; monkfish (fr: lotte or baudroie); mullet; or European hake (fr: merlan). It usually also includes shellfish and other seafood such as sea urchins (fr: oursins), mussels (fr: moules); velvet crabs (fr: étrilles); spider crab (fr: araignées de mer) or octopus." - Wikipedia
Octopus may be last on the Bouillabaisse fish list, but it is certain that it is not the least - one would imagine that when it was available it was considered a must!
Nuremberg Christkindlmarkt / Christmas Market - Brück and Sohn Advent Calendar
The Nuremberg Christkindlmarkt / Christmas Market is one of the oldest (since before 1628) and largest in Germany, and one of the most famous in the world.
The market is known as the little town made of wood and cloth - with its post and beam wooden stalls and candy cane cloth "roofs." Every year the Christmas market begins on the Friday preceding the first Sunday in Advent and ends on December 24, unless that day is a Sunday.
Christkindlesmarkt means Christ Child Market. Every other year a Christkind is chosen to represent the Fair. The Nuremberg Christkind
with her white and golden dress, long blond curls, and golden crown has been the symbol of the Christmas Market for many decades. She opens the Market each year with a prayer.
Visit the Official Nuremberg Christkindlmarkt website for detailed information on the history of the fair (an historical timeline, photographs, and a video) and information on planning a visit.
Enjoy the countdown to Christmas here at home with our Brück and Sohn (Printers in Meissen, Germany since 1793) charming Advent Calendar of the historical
Nuremberg Christkindlmarkt.
Inge-Glas Hedgehogs - New for 2014
This year, Inge-Glas of Germany has come full circle in the world of hedgehogs. In 2011 they introduced Mama Hedgehog
Hedgehogs are native to Europe, Asia, and Africa. They may be kept as pets in most of the United States. They are called hedgehogs because they make a pig-like grunt while searching for food. They are nocturnal, eat insects, and have a spiny protection that makes us think of porcupines, but they are not related.
European Folklore, as Wikipedia reports, has them commonly shown as carrying apples on their back: "As animals native to Europe, hedgehogs hold a place in European folklore. In most European countries, hedgehogs are believed to be a hard-working no-nonsense animal. This partially results from the folk belief that hedgehogs collect apples and mushrooms and carry them to their secret storage. It is unclear exactly how old this belief is, though the Roman author Pliny the Elder mentions hedgehogs gathering grapes by this method in his Naturalis Historia. In medieval bestiaries and other illuminated manuscripts dating from at least the 13th century onwards, hedgehogs are shown rolling on and impaling fruit to carry back to their dens. In fact, however, hedgehogs do not gather food to store for later consumption, relying on their deposited fat to survive hibernation. Nor is apple included in their usual diet (it has been suggested, however, that the hedgehogs may use juice of wild apples in order to get rid of parasites).... The image remains an irresistible one to modern illustrators. Therefore, hedgehogs are often portrayed carrying apples - partially, to make them look cuter." You may, indeed, enjoy perusing the many images of hedgehogs with apples on their back.
Indeed, Inge-Glas in 2014 has wonderfully completed the hedgehog family adding Papa Hedgehog with the fabled apple on his back
and Baby Hedgehog, too.
Papa Hedgehog and Baby Hedgehog are even more special because they are ornaments in the Inge-Glas Swarovski Collection: An exclusive collection, the Swarovski Collection ornaments "shine with multi-faceted crystals on the Christmas tree. Each ornament is decorated with sparkling Swarovski Elements, which intensify in the twinkling Christmas lights.
All of our Inge-Glas ornaments come complete with an Inge-Glas Gift Box and Archival Tissue.
2014 Carbonel Santons Nativity Sets - Size #2 (Elite)
Every year we build new Marcel Carbonel Santons (from Provence, France) Nativity Sets built around different stables. Saint Francis of Assisi is credited with creating the first nativity scene in 1223.
We always offer starter sets for Carbonel figures themselves (Mary, Joseph, and Jesus) and our Shepherd Gift set. Click here to see them in Size #2 (Elite) and here for Size #3 (Grande). All are a wonderful way to get started and to save some money.
Our one of a kind stable sets are available for Size #2. They include a stable, Santons figures, trees from the Erzgebirge, and Bavarian accessories. Enjoy the European tradition. Begin with a stable and the nativity figures. Over the years, add additional figures and Carbonel accessories, trees, and miniature accessories.
#1 - Charming Creche Set. This set includes Carbonel Ruin Stable with trees and eight figures: Mary, Joseph, Jesus, an Angel, three Kings, and a sheep. The accessories are from Bavaria and the Erzgebirge, Germany.
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- #2 -Wonderful Carbonel Nativity Set with German Accessories. This set includes a Courtyard Stable; Mary, Joseph, Jesus, three Kings, an Angel and a sheep. PLUS a sampling of accessories--all from Germany (the Erzgebirge and Bavaria).
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#3 - An exquisite creche starter set. Combine French Santons figures with a German stable and accessories. This set includes: eight Santons: Mary, Joseph, Jesus, three Kings, Angel, and a sheep. A detailed hand-made stable reminiscent of the European Alps from Bavaria. PLUS German trees and accessories.
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- #4 - Nativity Set with Carbonel Santons and Stable with German Accessories. This set celebrates the arrival of a Shepherd with his sheep - the shepherd was the first to arrive at the manger. The stable is the Stable with Trees - Étable No. 2 bis avec arbres. Eight figures: Mary, Joseph, Jesus, the Man with a sheep, three sheep, and a lamb. The accessories are from Bavaria and the Erzgebirge, Germany..
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#5 - A delightful creche set combining French Santons with a German Stable and accessories. A Bavarian stable - in the Alpine Tradition. Five (5) Santons figures: Mary, Joseph, Jesus, an Angel and a sheep. Accessories from Bavaria and the Erzgebirge, Germany.
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and finally #6 - Nativity Set with Carbonel Santons and Stable with German Accessories. Santons Stable with trees and four Santons: Mary, Joseph, Jesus and a sheep. The accessories are from Bavaria and the Erzgebirge, Germany.
Click on the images above to find these nativity sets in our shop. We ship online via the United States Post Office. For the bulk of the items we offer, USPS is definitely the least expensive way to ship. Nativity sets and Stables are one of the exceptions, due to weight and package dimensions. It is possible that our nativity sets would ship less expensively via United Parcel Service. Place a telephone order - 1-877-832-6077 for a UPS delivery.
Wendt and Kühn Grünhainichen Musician Angels - and a Special Place to Store Them
This year we have significantly expanded our offerings of Wendt and Kühn Angels, especially the orchestra musician Angels.
In 1923 Grete Wendt sketched the first three of her angels - each with eleven white dots on their little green wings. They were:
The Angel with a Candle, The Angel with a Violin, and the Angel with a Flute.
We now carry these and a total of 25 of the Musician Angels, and are pleased to also offer the wonderful Grünhainichen Angel Slumber Vault.
The Slumber Vault is a superb place to keep your Wendt and Kuhn Grünhainichen Angels - the musicians and more. The vault stores 36 angels with compartments of various sizes, including a larger compartment to accommodate the grand piano. Grünhainichen Angels - stand alone and ornaments - are pictured along all four sides of the vault.
Click here for our Wendt and Kühn Pinterest Board.
The Shepherdess – the Twentieth (20th) Essential Santon for a Provençal Creche
The Shepherdess – La Bergere (French) – La Pastresso (Provençaux) is number 20 on the list of the top 20 Essential Santons for a Provençal Creche.
We included her in our very first entry on the 20 Essential Santons, the Shepherd being #1, at the very end of that post, as she is represented by the Carbonel workshops in four pieces, all tendering a lamb - two in Size #3
The Angel first announced the birth of the Saviour to the Shepherds. The Shepherds were the first to reach the manger, and summoned all the Provencal villagers to follow them. It is because Christ's birth was first revealed to the Shepherds (the Pastors) that the original nativity plays in Provence were called pastorals. "Filled with wonder, the shepherds made their way to the manger carrying jugs of milk, wheels of cheese and a precious lamb. On the way, they stopped at every farm and village to tell of the wondrous happening....Their jubilance and excitement was infectious and it was not long before everyone who could walk was on his way with a gift or to offer assistance." (Foley, p. 83-84)
