Christmas decorations

[SallyB392]

Am I unreasonable to feel that shops should be selling decorations representing at least a few nativity scenes?
We went to the garden centre today, they have beautiful Christmas decorations but just one diorama depicting the nativity. I always enjoyed looking at decorations and watching the fireworks that accompany Eid, Divali, Yum Kippur, Chinese New Year, and all world faiths, they represent our multicultural society. But I want to see the decorations representing the Christian faith too. Is that so unreasonable?

I agree. We have a crib which goes on the hall table. The wise men go on the windowsill at the top of the stairs.

Do as others are doing and knit one.

Given that less than 2% of the population regularly go to church and the vast majority of the xmas motifs have nothing whatsoever to do with religion, it's hardly surprising.

Wow!
A couple of points, shops and garden centres don't fill their shelves with Christmas goods to satisfy me, they bring out their Christmas goods when THEY feel it's appropriate. So I can't honestly see why being disappointed with goods available is unreasonable.
If you go shopping in London, gifts and other goods ARE specifically available for other faiths (and so they should be, we are a multi cultural society).
Finally, I think that the responses make it pretty clear that few people place Christian values and beliefs around the meaning of Christmas, so sad to acknowledge but something that I will have to accept.

I understand where you're coming from. I ended up getting our little nativity scene from a Sue Ryder shop as I couldn't find anything quality in the usual shops - though to be honest there's not always 'quality' Christmas decorations around unless you go very upmarket now. The more that break within a few years, the higher the profit margin for buyers having to buy another piece.

I also picked up an advent calendar from Amazon a few years ago, on the recommendation of someone on Mumsnet actually. It's made up of teeny books which tell the Christmas story. A coupe of lines of the story every day in order. Each little book has a cord on it so you can hang it on the tree as you empty the advent calendar - so 2 in 1 decorations and the religious aspect of Christmas is covered. My plan is that DS can, if he wishes, take it with him when he finally leaves home and maybe one day will sit every evening in December reading a couple of lines to his children.

I don't really know anyone who really decorates or uses fireworks on Yom Kippur - beyond a deep clean usually before Rosh Hashanah, as Yom Kippur is a day of fasting, atonement, repentance. Not the point of your thread, but it seems the odd one out in your list. Purim would have been a better fit, at least that has noise makers and sometimes festive decorations.

YANBU to want to be represented, but YABU to expect every shop to include it, especially in October. Different stores will sell different things related to holidays. I've seen quite a few with nativities this year in cards and other decorations being sold and I know at my DDs' school where they've already made Christmas cards as part of a contest done by the local Cathedral, many used them along with Cathedral imagery. Mine just did snowy Cathedrals as they weren't allowed to do fireworks above the Cathedral as they wanted or any New Year's imagery (we don't celebrate Christmas). Personally, I'd rather not have Christmas at all in October, but stores and schools will do what they think will engage more people.

I know garden centres do Christmas decorations, but a nativity set is a specific thing, and I would think more of a department store thing, or home decor type shop if you want to go to a physical shop. They’re on the more expensive side, and you buy one to reuse every year, so I doubt they are as profitable at a garden centre than in more specialist shops.

If you mean tree decorations that depict the nativity then I’d expect you can find those somewhere, but it sounds quite specialist, so you can’t expect to find them just anywhere.

I don’t think you’re wise to draw comparisons with what you’ve seen relating to other faiths, as you’re just saying you’ve seen decorations for other festivals, whereas you are looking for a specific kind of decoration.

You will definitely find a good selection online if you want to browse.

Oh cut the holier than thou virtue signalling, Hyacinth!

There’s always tons of nativity and other religious decorations? The shops don’t even have their full range in yet—it’s only October! Wait until closer to the time OP there’ll be loads.

Supply and demand. Obviously not many people want to buy nativity ornaments.

John Lewis: www.johnlewis.com/alessi-'happy-eternity-baby'-nativity-scene/p4257268

The Range: www.therange.co.uk/christmas/christmas-decorations/models-scenes-and-ornaments/light-up-nativity/

Asda: direct.asda.com/george/christmas-shop/room-decorations/wooden-nativity-set/050197332,default,pd.html

Debenhams: www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prod_10701_10001_47733+7256_-1

I can’t be arsed to Google any more, but it’s taken me a couple of minutes to show you haven’t been looking very hard.

The OP just wanted to have a moan about other religions IMO

My nativity advent calendar I’m buying.

Diwali is a festival of light so fireworks celebration is not unusual. They are not synonymous with Eid though, in muslim majority countries they may be used as a means of celebration but it is not common in the UK. Definitely wasn't a part of my celebrations when I was younger anyway. Would be interested to know which mainstream shops you have seen eid decorations in? I would want to stock up, as it happens you tend to have to buy online. Or I would have to shop in 'asian' shops.

Your post seems to underlie that other faiths are well represented but not Christianity whereas I definitely don't think that is the case. I imagine you will find what you are looking for after Halloween and can of course look online. Christmas is becoming more secular and many of my friends that will be celebrating do not go to church or care much for the Christianity aspect, which I can understand feels like a shame.

I agree with the OP. Although most of the country is either only nominally religious or of no faith, many of our customs, traditions and practices are shaped by Christianity and it is the main festival.

How about this from Amazon?

www.amazon.co.uk/Carousel-Home-Gifts-Freestanding-Christmas/dp/B07JFGH7NB/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=christmas+crib+set&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1602692776&sr=8-3

Your post seems to underlie that other faiths are well represented but not Christianity

This

Considering the consistent low attendance in many churches, it’s not all that surprising.

£85 for that John Lewis nativity scene

Where are all the Pagan decorations amongst the Christmas tat? After all, it was their holiday first.

Just to make it clear, I am definitely NOT suggesting that we should not be celebrating other faith and cultural events on the contrary I'm saying I want to see more decorations showing the link to the birth of Christ.

Anyway, I'm going to bow out now.

www.wonderinwood.co.uk/

Have a look here, most are German and a lot are genuine pieces made in the Erzegebirge. They're not cheap by any means but they're the kind of thing you can keep year after year, many of ours pieces are over 40 years old and come out at the start of every Advent.