Crèche Collector

DOUG BURG

Henrietta holds a crèche molded from clay by Native Americans in the Southwest. She purchased the set in Taos, N.M., in 1988.

Henrietta Van Maanen ’55 of Fort Dodge, Iowa, began collecting nativities more than 40 years ago. An avid traveler, she has sets from around the world and has donated a number of them to Northwestern College. Recently, we asked her to tell us more about her hobby.

How many nativity sets do you have—and from how many countries?
I’ve not counted the countries, but I have more than 600. When I was younger and didn’t have so many, I would take all my books out of my bookshelves and all my dishes out of my china cabinet and set up the nativity sets in late October, then take them down in February during President’s Day—because it took a weekend. When I moved into my retirement cottage, I purposely got all these shelves and bookshelves, and I just have them up year-round.

What got you started collecting nativities?
I made my first nativity back in ’66 or ’67. My sister was married to an art teacher, and they’d get greenware, clean it up and paint it. They had a very nice set—a stable and all the figures—so that was my very first one. But what really got me going was a trip to Venice. On those trips you’re always shopping, and there was this beautiful blown-glass nativity set. I was hemming and hawing. It wasn’t real expensive, but it wasn’t real cheap, either. Finally a friend said, “Henrietta, if you see something you like when you’re traveling, you’d better be getting it today, because tomorrow we’re not going to be here—and we’re not coming back.” [Laughing] She started me off on a terrible, terrible habit.

Why collect nativity sets from other countries?
Oh, because the wonderful thing is they represent all these cultures and people who—even though they’re different—are all Christians. It’s such fun to see ones made in different countries with the features and clothing of those people.

How many countries have you visited?
I’ve done Europe pretty thoroughly. I’ve been to China, Japan for a short time, and Russia many times. I’ve done a lot of Central America, and I was in northern Africa on a Mediterranean cruise. This winter I’ll travel by boat from southern South America to the islands around Antarctica to South Africa.

What’s the smallest nativity set you have?
I have a little nativity set that’s an inch wide and maybe ¾ inch high.

And largest?
A friend gave me a paper-mache set with figures that were 3 feet high.

If you could keep only one nativity set, which one would it be—and why?
The blown-glass nativity set I purchased in Venice. It’s fairly small—so I think I’ll be able to keep that for quite awhile when I move into smaller quarters—but I think it’s because of the memories of that wonderful trip.

Do you have any Christmas traditions when it comes to your nativity sets?
I’ve never had a Christmas tree; I’ve always had the nativities. Now, because I have so many that are Christmas tree decorations, I have a black metal tree I can hang them on that I have up year-round.

What prompted you to give some of your nativities to Northwestern College?
I was at a college gathering in Omaha, and President Bruce Murphy and his wife, Di, were there. We were talking about our hobbies, and I told them about my nativity sets. She was really interested, because they represent all these different cultures. That same year, she was asked to be part of Orange City’s Christmas Tour of Homes, and she asked me if she could borrow my nativities to decorate their home. I said, “Sure!” and boxed up 40 and brought them over. Afterward, when I came to pick them up, she chose the first 10 or 12 that are in your collection now.