PORT ANGELES — The Bible has two versions of the Nativity scene. Sandy Roedell has more than 200.
About 37 years ago, Roedell started collecting cards and figurines depicting the birth of Jesus Christ.
The figurines typically show either the holy family — Mary, Jesus and Joseph — in the barn where they stayed because no inn had room for them, the shepherds celebrating the birth of the Messiah, the magi who brought gifts or the flight of the family to Egypt when small children were being killed by King Herod, who was in fear of losing his crown.
The stories are told in the Bible in the books of Matthew and Luke.
Since she began collecting creches, Roedell has found dozens.
Family and friends have added dozens more — adding up to a Christmas scene at her house showing off her reason for the season.
“I wanted to collect something meaningful,” she said.
“I wanted it to be something that would show what I think Christmas is about.”
Some of the creches are tiny — one set in a music box is not much bigger than Roedell’s palm, with miniscule figurines glued into place.
“I don’t know how they make those people so tiny,” she said.
Others figures are larger — nearly a foot tall — and are carved from wood, sewn in fabric and cast in metal.
One of her oldest pieces is a creche with the traditional feel of sweeping robes and adoring angels.
“That one was my mother’s — one of my oldest ones,” she said.
Although she can’t remember the first one she collected, nearly every Nativity scene has a story, a person and a meaning behind it.
“This one,” she said, pointing at a fabric set, “a friend of mine who loves to go to flea markets got — she has found a lot of them.”
Others are the result of travel.
A Faberge egg from France reminds her of a European adventure.
A carved wooden creche invokes memories of Thailand.
An all-white set is a gift from her son when he was in Switzerland.
Some of the creches are traditional, with Mary gazing lovingly at the baby Jesus, Joseph at her side.
Others are more unconventional — banana plant sticks acting as the family, painted blue birds dressed up for a pageant, dogs playing the parts in the Nativity, even flowerpots shaped to look like the characters.
“Some of them are from missionary families who bring them back to sell to make money, and some are representative of different parts of the world,” Roedell said.
Every year, Roedell carefully unwraps each one from the paper and boxes where they are stored and cleans off all available space to set them up.
A set of star-shaped plates are displayed in the china cabinet, surrounded by other figurines.
Shadow box frames from the office, which normally are home to horse figurines, are brought downstairs for smaller sets.
Window sills, the mantel of the fireplace and an art nook in the corner of her hallway all act as homes to the holy family.
Once the home is in full holiday decor, she opens it to friends, family and even some strangers to take a look at her collection.
This year, her open house was held Sunday, attracting a party-like atmosphere for the collection.
“I thought, ‘Why on earth should this just be for me?'” Roedell said.
“I wanted other people to enjoy it as well.”
Although she’s spent nearly four decades collecting the trinkets, she plans to slow down.
“Of course, if I get them as gifts, I will be happy,” she said.
“And if I see a really, really special one, I’ll probably get one.
“But it is a lot of work to do this every year, and I’m thinking it is time to start scaling back.”
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Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at paige.dickerson@peninsuladailynews.com.
