“I’ve wanted a nativity scene for a long, long time,” explained Patricia Koch to the audience gathered in the historic 1880 church at the Santa Claus Museum and Village on Holy Saturday (April 8).
She added, “I can’t fully express my appreciation and wonder.”
She was speaking about the half life-size Fontanini nativity donated to the museum by someone who wishes to remain anonymous.
The beautiful, hand-painted figurines look as if they were custom made to adorn the Deutsch Evangelische St. Paul’s Kirche — part of the complex that comprises the Santa Claus Museum and Village, along with the historic post office, 40-ton, 22-foot concrete Santa Claus statue and the museum building itself where Santa Claus keeps an office.
Mrs. Koch gave a brief history of Fontanini, founded by Emmanuel Fontanini in the late 1800s when he began crafting creches. Each piece can take up to two years to create and all Fontanini figures are dates with the company seal added in a discreet spot. Today the company is run by Emmanuel’s great-grandchildren.
This was not the first time this nativity scene adorned this church. Mrs. Koch remembers attending Midnight Mass there in its previous location when the building was on loan to parishioners of Saint Nicholaus Catholic Church before the parish built the current church, “I remember sitting in the woods. The church was dark, lit by coal oil lamps. My son played the pump organ and I sang Silent Night in German.”
Fond memories of this service are one of the reasons Koch was so passionate about the church. “It was sitting in the woods falling apart,” she recalls. “One of the happiest days of my life was when we moved it and saved it.”
Koch continues working to restore the church, which recently received a new coat of paint.
In closing she noted “I am delighted and excited!”
As part of the dedication ceremony, Santa Claus resident Kim Schopmeyer sang “Amazing Grace” accompanied on guitar by her husband, Gary and then Santa Claus spoke to the gathering. He said dedicating his 50inch scale Nativity Scene during the holiest week in the Christian calendar was highly appropriate.
Santa spoke of his parallel to Jesus saying he recognizes the Savior as a comrade and brother in the Christmas spirit. “We can all be a Santa. We don’t need a red suit and right hair.” He continued, On Easter Sunday make your challenge to be Santa. Leave the gift giving to me, but spread joy and happiness.”
Photos and story by Kathy Tretter
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