Hi everyone! There are a few posts from the end of 2010 that I still need to catch up on, and this is one of them! I wanted to post the photos I took from our Putzing Advent-ure at Raleigh Moravian Church on Dec. 15-16th. It is a chance for the congregation to celebrate how we experience Christ’s birth in our homes and prepare our hearts for the upcoming celebration! Putz is a funny word for most non-Moravians (and even some Moravians), but it comes from the German “putzen” which means “to decorate” (that’s the older meaning–today it means more “to clean”.) Thus a Putz is a decoration that shows the Christmas story (or Easter–Raleigh Moravian has the only Holy Week/Easter Putz that I am aware of). Traditional putz often multiple scenes, often including a prophet from the Old Testament, traveling to Bethlehem, the shepherds in the field, the manger and family, and then the wise men on their journey. Sometimes Putz can be a single scene which is more like what we think of as a Nativity display, or Creche, or Manger Scene.
Our Putzing Advent-ure during Advent was an opportunity for the congregation to bring their putz from home to share with everyone. We received over 60 displays from different families in the congregation that represented at least 17 regions/countries/cultures. Some were “Please do not touch” and others were on a children’s table that said, “Please touch.” We also had crafts and activities for the children. It is a new tradition (this was the 2nd Annual) at the church and is a lot of fun for all ages!
How do you and your family prepare for Christ’s birth? Do you have a favorite nativity scene/putz that you put out to decorate your home each year? What do you like about it? What makes it special?
I tried to get a photo of each display, but realized that I missed a few along the way. Enjoy these photos from the event!
Living On Emmaus Ave 
I received this comment via email… and post it with Al’s permission…
“My Advent-ure of about 15 years ago came while assisting my mother-in-law to set up the Advent \”traveling show\” at the Episcopal Cathedral in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. The Cathedral used large half-sized figures. The Wise Men figures would process down a side aisle, moving closer to the Nativity figures each week. The Nativity scene had the customary sheep, oxen, etc.
I was helping take the heavy figures out of storage, lifting them down from a cabinet. When I brought down the first sheep it had a tag around its neck: \”Baaaah!\”
I grinned and guessed we would have sound effects with each animal.
When I brought out the second sheep it also had a tag. That one said \”Humbug!\”
My mother-in-law has a strange sense of humor. ☺
But the Light of Christ shines on us and within us whether or not we supply the right sounds and accompaniments.
Al Reynolds
Graceham
It\’s not enough to see the light. Sometimes we\’ve got to BE the light.”
wow! Suz, I love this article. I would love to share it with Roots and Wings. We’ll talk soon– but I’m getting iced under I am afraid right now!
Lisa,
thanks for your comment. Feel free to share it with Roots and Wings–share the link and send them on over! I have more info on what exactly we do if anyone is interested in doing somethings similar in their congregation–Email me at suzanne(at)raleighmoravian.org to find out more. Last year we used the BCE’s Activity Stations, and this year we created our own to have lots of kid-friendly activities that were related to Putzing.
Thanks again!
Suzanne