In many Czech homes, a wooden nativity scene is set up in the same place every year – and it is often the very same nativity scene that grandma used to set up. Few Christmas decorations have such a deep tradition in the Czech Republic, and few are passed down so naturally. Let us look at where it comes from and how to choose your own.
Nativity scenes in Bohemia: from churches to cottages
Before we get to the practical choice, a short stop to explain why nativity-making is so strong in the Czech lands. It also explains many of the details you will notice in Czech nativity scenes.
The custom of setting up cribs reached the Czech lands in the Baroque period and at first belonged in churches. The turning point came at the end of the eighteenth century, when nativity scenes in churches were restricted for a time – and people began to set them up at home. That is when a church decoration became folk art, which took root here for good.
And because nativity scenes were made by ordinary people, they began to look like their own world. The figures were given folk costumes instead of oriental robes. The stable turned into a Czech barn. Among the shepherds appeared farmers, musicians and craftsmen from the maker's own village. The landscape in the background stopped being Judea and became the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands or the Eagle Mountains.
The best-known evidence of how far the Czech nativity tradition went is the Třebechovice Nativity Scene from Třebechovice pod Orebem – an extensive wooden work with moving figures that its creators worked on for decades. In Jindřichův Hradec you can see Krýza's Nativity Scene, and a strong woodcarving tradition can be found in Moravian Wallachia and the foothills of the Eagle Mountains.
🌟 Planning a nativity scene this year? Wooden nativity scenes made from native wood – handmade in our sheltered workshop to last for decades.
Browse wooden nativity scenesHow to choose a nativity scene that will work for you
A nativity scene is something you buy once in a lifetime, or once a generation. It is therefore worth giving the choice more attention than an ordinary seasonal decoration – you are deciding on something you will set up twenty years in a row.
Size according to the space, not the other way round
The most common mistake is buying a nativity scene you liked in a photo and then looking for a place for it at home. Do it the other way round: first choose the surface where it will stand, and choose accordingly.
In a flat, a compact set up to about half a metre wide works well – you can put it on a chest of drawers, a windowsill or a shelf and it will not get in the way. Larger multi-piece nativity scenes need their own table or dresser and stand out more in a family house or a country cottage, where there is enough space.
Bear in mind that the nativity scene stays in place for six weeks. Anything that gets in the way of everyday household life will annoy you until Epiphany.
Style according to the rest of your decorations
A nativity scene rarely stands alone – it is usually part of wider Christmas decorations. So choose a similar tone. Natural, unpainted wood goes with more restrained decorations, dried materials and simple wooden ornaments. Painted nativity scenes can carry richer surroundings but are harder to combine with strong colours elsewhere in the room.
If you are setting up a nativity scene for the first time, natural wood is the safer choice. It never gets boring and in five years' time you will easily match it with anything.
Number of figures: start with fewer
One more practical reason for expanding gradually: before you set up the nativity scene for the first time, it is hard to estimate how much space will be left on your chosen surface. Set up the basics, see how it looks, and next year you will know exactly what to add and where.
Nativity scenes can be expanded, which is their great advantage. The basis is the Holy Family, the manger and the shelter; then come the shepherds, sheep, the ox and the donkey, an angel and the Three Kings.
Buying a smaller basic set and adding one figure each year is better, both practically and emotionally, than buying everything at once. You spread the cost and create a family tradition at the same time – each figure has its year and its story.
Where to place the nativity scene
The location decides whether you will notice the nativity scene for six weeks or whether it will blend into the background. So it is worth giving it a moment's thought rather than simply putting it wherever there happened to be space.
The classic spot is under the tree or next to it. That makes sense – the two belong together, and under the tree the nativity scene is at the centre of things. The downside is that it gets lost among the presents and is hard to see on Christmas Eve.
A more practical choice is a chest of drawers, a dresser or a wide windowsill. The nativity scene is at eye level, easy to see and nobody trips over it. On a windowsill there is also backlighting, which suits wooden figures beautifully.
Whatever you choose, bear two things in mind. Not on a radiator and not in direct sunlight – dry hot air dries out wood and can cause cracks, and sunlight gradually changes its colour. And if you have small children or a cat at home, expect the figures to travel.
A tip for a family tradition: Let the children set up the nativity scene themselves. It does not matter if a sheep ends up on the roof and the angel in the manger – that is exactly what they will remember in twenty years. Another lovely custom is to place the Three Kings at the other end of the room after Christmas Eve and have someone move them a little closer every day until they reach the manger on 6 January.
Who stands in the nativity scene and why
A nativity scene is not a random collection of figurines – each figure has its place and its meaning. It is handy to know, especially when the children ask.
The Holy Family forms the centre: Mary, Joseph and the manger. Everything else is grouped around them and the composition starts from them. The ox and the donkey have stood by the manger since the earliest times and are among the most recognisable elements of all.
The shepherds with their sheep are the first to arrive – and in Czech nativity scenes they are the most "Czech" of all. Instead of ancient robes they wear smocks, sheepskin coats and hats like those worn in the foothills. The angel is placed above or behind the shelter, usually higher than the others.
The Three Kings arrive last, on 6 January. In folk tradition they represent three stages of life – youth, adulthood and old age – and are therefore often depicted at different ages.
In Czech nativity scenes you will also find figures that have no place in the biblical story: musicians with bagpipes, a housewife with a basket, a blacksmith, a miller. It is these people from the maker's own village that make the Czech nativity tradition what it is – a story that the feast is happening here, among us.
Where to go to see nativity scenes
If you want to get an idea before choosing, it is worth going to see some. An Advent tour of nativity scenes is also an outing that works with children and grandparents alike.
The best-known destination is Třebechovice pod Orebem in East Bohemia, where the famous wooden nativity scene with moving figures is on display. In Jindřichův Hradec you will find Krýza's Nativity Scene – a huge mechanical nativity scene that is among the best known in the country.
A strong woodcarving tradition can be found in Moravian Wallachia and in the foothills of the Eagle Mountains, where nativity-making is still alive today. And besides the big names, it is worth looking at the nativity scenes in churches near where you live – many villages display pieces carved by a local a hundred years ago.
Opening hours and exhibition dates vary from year to year, so check them on the individual museums' websites before you travel.
When to set up the nativity scene and when to put it away
Tradition has clear rules, even though most families adapt them to their own needs today.
| Date | What happens | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Advent, often the 4th Sunday | The nativity scene is set up | In 2026 this falls on 20 December |
| Until Christmas Eve | The manger stays empty | Baby Jesus is placed only on the evening of 24 December |
| 24 December | The manger is completed | Often part of the Christmas Eve ritual |
| 6 January | The Three Kings arrive | The Feast of the Epiphany |
| After 6 January | The nativity scene is put away | Wrap in paper and store somewhere dry |
How to look after a nativity scene
Good news for anyone worried about taking on an extra chore: a wooden nativity scene is one of the least demanding decorations of all. It needs no seasonal maintenance, does not spoil, and the only things that really harm it are moisture and intense heat.
Care is minimal, and that is exactly why wooden nativity scenes last for generations. During the season, simply wipe the figures with a dry or slightly damp cloth – dust settles on them over six weeks. Do not use cleaning products or water; the wood does not need them and the surface finish suffers.
For storage the same applies as for dried herbs: dry, dark and in breathable packaging. Wrap the figures individually in paper, not plastic, and store them in a cardboard box or a wooden crate. Put the box in the loft or a cupboard, not in a damp cellar and not on top of a wardrobe above a radiator.
If a figure breaks off – and after many years it will happen – repair it with wood glue, not superglue. Superglue becomes brittle on wood and the joint will crack again over time.
In short. The Czech nativity tradition arose when people moved the crib from the church into their homes and adapted it to their own landscape – which is why you meet folk costumes, barns and musicians in Czech nativity scenes. When choosing, start from the space you have, not from a photo. Begin with a smaller basic set and add figures gradually. Place the nativity scene away from radiators and direct sunlight, and after Epiphany store it wrapped in paper somewhere dry. It will then outlast you.
Selected tips from our workshop
Frequently asked questions
When is the nativity scene set up and when is it put away?
Traditionally the nativity scene is set up during Advent, usually around the fourth Sunday of Advent, and the manger stays empty until Christmas Eve. It is put away after the Feast of the Three Kings, i.e. after 6 January. Many families, however, adapt the dates to suit themselves.
When do the Three Kings belong in the nativity scene?
According to tradition they arrive only on 6 January, the Feast of the Epiphany. Some families therefore place them at the other end of the room after Christmas Eve and move them a little closer every day – a favourite Christmas game for children.
What size of nativity scene suits a flat?
A compact set up to about half a metre wide, which you can put on a chest of drawers or a windowsill, suits a flat. Larger multi-piece nativity scenes need their own surface and stand out more in a family house or a country cottage.
How do I look after a wooden nativity scene?
Just wipe it now and then with a dry or slightly damp cloth. During the year, store it somewhere dry, away from heating and direct sunlight, ideally wrapped in paper in a breathable box. Do not use cleaning products or water.
Can a nativity scene be expanded gradually?
Yes, and it is both a practical and a lovely solution. The basis is the Holy Family with a shelter; further figures – shepherds, sheep, an angel, the Three Kings – can be added in later years. Each then has its own year and its own story.
What nativity scenes does AMADEA offer?
In our sheltered workshop we make wooden nativity scenes from native wood, from small sets for the windowsill to larger versions. You can complement them with ornaments, candle holders and other Christmas decorations made from the same material.
🌳 A nativity scene to pass down. Handmade wooden nativity scenes from Czech wood – from the AMADEA sheltered workshop.
Go to wooden nativity scenesAuthor: Martin Portych – specialist in wooden products, gift advice and shop content
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