How to Build an Outdoor Nativity Scene

• Step 1

  Research the Nativity story. Knowing the events that preceded the birth of Jesus will help you choose the right elements and know how to organize them (see References).

• Step 2

  Be flexible in terms of size and the amount of space you will use when building your outdoor Nativity scene. This will make it easier for you to capture a sense of time and movement as well as inspire reverence.

• Step 3

  Make a list of the characters and elements. Your Nativity scene will display a stable with hay; the baby Jesus in a manger; the Virgin Mary kneeling down, dressed in blue and beige; Joseph wearing a dark or striped robe and kneeling; an angel; the Star of Bethlehem; shepherds holding shepherd staffs; sheep who are lying down, sitting or grazing; the three wise men wearing robes and turbans and holding jewels; at least one donkey; and camels dressed with saddles.

• Step 4

  Buy or make your materials. Do an Internet search for "where to buy nativity scene materials" for a list of resources. For low prices, shop at online auction sites or visit Goodwill or the Salvation Army for accessories such as a doll to use as baby Jesus, a blanket, animal figures and other doll items such as a house to use as your stable. To build the stable and manger from scratch, buy wood and wood-finish paint from a lumber or home-improvement store. Arts-and-crafts stores will have Styrofoam figures, glitter and fake jewels, which you can use to create your angel and the jewels held by the three wise men. Use a lighted Christmas-tree star as the Star of Bethlehem.

• Step 5

  Assemble your nativity scene. Start with the stable and lay the hay down. Place the manger in the center and a blanketed baby Jesus inside it. Place Mary and Joseph across from each other overlooking the manger. Show a donkey tied up outside the stable. This is the animal who brought Mary to Bethlehem. Display the star on top of the stable alongside the angel. Show your other visitors arriving in consecutive order.

• 3
• Carpentry tools and supplies Photos depicting the Nativity Arts-and-crafts materials
• Carpentry tools and supplies
• Photos depicting the Nativity
• Arts-and-crafts materials
• When assembling your scene, you can be accurate in terms of compass directions. Since an outdoor Nativity scene can offer a 360-degree view, you can depict the three wise men arriving from the east and the shepherds emerging from a hillside not far from Bethlehem. Both of these details are noted in the biblical Nativity story.
• When assembling your scene, you can be accurate in terms of compass directions. Since an outdoor Nativity scene can offer a 360-degree view, you can depict the three wise men arriving from the east and the shepherds emerging from a hillside not far from Bethlehem. Both of these details are noted in the biblical Nativity story.

References & Resources

• The History of Christmas: Nativity History
• NativitySets.com: How to Arrange Nativity Sets
• ChristmasNightInc.com