Three wise men AND Three Stooges. Full-on residential nativity scene, Ross Township.
We’re not too proud to admit it: we’ve got a crush on the crèche, make major maneuvers for the manger, and take any opportunity to go nativity when the opportunity arises. That occasion presents itself early, often, and with no remorse on any trip around Bethle…ahem–metro Pittsburgh.
‘Tis the season for plastic lawn decor, strings of dollar store lights, and more baby Jesuses than you’d think a monotheistic society would care to advertise–but that’s what we do. For the atheist, it’s a weird internal conflict–I don’t believe any of this hokum, but man do I love it. If only this country had more wise men, myrrh out the yin-yang, a livestock petting zoo by every newborn and a kneeling camel in every cul-de-sac. Heck, we can dare to dream.
Merry Christmas, happy holidays, and a spine-tingling Krampus to all and may The Orbit‘s diaspora have the good frankincense to stay safe until Santa can hook us up with the vaccine.
Cinderblock crèche, Polish Hill
Wait…where’s the kid? Millvale *
Forget the frankincense and myrrh, who brought the 24″ Weber? Monessen
Major manger, Reserve Township [Note: bonus cracked Mary!]
Three wise men, two nutcrackers, AND Troy Polamalu (+ “A Christmas Story” sexy leg lamp!), Reserve Township
White Christmas, Lawrenceville
Christmas behind bars, Lawrenceville
Row house crèche, Lawrenceville
That’s not the baby Jesus! Marshall-Shadeland
O Hummel town of Bethlehem, Merante’s Gifts, Bloomfield
Diamond Wire Spring, Ross Township
Cement circle crèche, Glassport
Bloomfield
Front porch crèche, Lawrenceville
* Orbit Instagram user @danko_pgh explains this as “The Baby Jesus figure should never be displayed until very late on Christmas Eve.” That certainly makes sense once’d you think about it, but clearly isn’t followed universally.
Pittsburgh Orbit 
I too love a good Créche. I am glad to see that Polish Hill Mary and Joseph are trying to set a good social distance example! Merry Everything!
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I loved this post and the variety of figures (and how people arrange them and accessorize them.) Though I am not religious now I have always loved the Nativity Scene. I recall tiny clay figures from Italy in our indoor family scene. And I like seeing the outdoor ones (I always feel very sorry for the Baby Jesus who I always want to give him a winter jacket for the cold, as he lies in his manger without much clothing on in most scenes). Anyway, I live in a suburb of Philadelphia, and near me is a museum, Glencairn, that does a magnificent display (indoors) of Nativity scenes from all over the world. Some are tiny and simple, all the way up to life size and very elaborate. I attend the display each year, but this year, it was not held due to the virus. But, the museum put out an online Nativity calendar (https://glencairnmuseum.org/world-nativities-2020) featuring one scene from their collection through Advent. I have been following it (I recognize some scenes from seeing them in person…) Anyway, I thought I would mention this for anyone who enjoys the scenes like I do. And thanks for showing these; it’s made me notice the ones in my own neighborhood more closely.
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