Our nativity figures

The walk-in nativity scene shows a sad yet smiling man arriving in Neumarkt at Christmas time in front of the Reitstadel.

Holzmichl lives with depression and often feels depressed, desperate and anxious.
On the other hand, he beams a smile, which he likes to put on as a kind of mask so as not to attract attention. Only Michl knows how he really feels and what he looks like inside.

He has many worries that weigh heavily on the very sensitive Michl, symbolized by the globe in his hand.
In addition, Michl’s depression paralyzes him in coping with everyday life; for example, he has problems getting up in the morning and can no longer concentrate properly because he has trouble sleeping.
A heavy bag containing many heavy stones hangs from the walking stick. Michl’s problems and symptoms are written on the stones. This makes every movement difficult and inflexible.

But Michl also has another smiling side and takes his health into his own hands. His hand holds a ball and this ball contains, figuratively speaking, all the pieces of the mosaic that contribute to health and well-being. Michl shows everything that is important for his recovery process and how he himself contributes to maintaining his own health.
For Michl, arriving means feeling at home in his town, knowing people he gets on with, meeting and exchanging ideas with them and doing nice things. He enjoys going to the nativity scene exhibition in the Reitstadel.

The day center for mentally ill people and the social psychiatric service help Michl to live better with his illness. With counseling sessions and many different offers from the day center, Michl can participate in society again and find a way out of his illness.
You can find more information from the social psychiatric service and the day center (meeting place for people living with a mental illness) at www.diakonie-nah.de and Instagram.

There is movement here!

Young people’s lives are colorful, diverse and dynamic. The skater symbolizes the vitality of young people, which is important for our society. In all areas of youth work, e.g. at the Kreisjugendring, clubs, associations or the church, young people bring vitality to life.

This figure is intended to bring the joy of life to the crib and the child lying there with open arms is intended to give his blessing to all children and young people.

In connection with the war in Ukraine, we pupils in Year 9 at Ostendorfer Gymnasium have been reflecting on the role of Bundeswehr soldiers and the role of the military in the population in general. We all agreed that there is a lack of appreciation and acceptance towards them. We explained this by the fact that only one of our classmates knew a soldier.

Since the suspension of military service in Germany, we and many other young people no longer have any points of contact and can identify less with soldiers. Perhaps we would also prefer to get involved in the peace movement, precisely because we hear a lot about the crimes of the Second World War at school, especially about the momentous role that Germany played in it.

Nevertheless, we can all see that we cannot do without soldiers and that they would always give their lives for us when deployed abroad.
For our nativity scene figure, we chose a blue helmet soldier, i.e. a soldier who is tasked by the United Nations (UN) with restoring peace in conflict regions and protecting the civilian population. We can imagine how stressful this must be and the fears that everyone has.

Our soldier lifts up a little girl. Perhaps he has just rescued her. Or maybe our soldier is a dad himself and has just come home from a mission and his child has run joyfully to meet him: Advent means arrival. And in any case – either way – it is a truly moving arrival.

The designed figure of a boy on a scooter embodies the diversity of our community. “We are different” – this is reflected in our different paces and looks, our different biographies and abilities, our ages and the colors of our cultures. But despite these differences, there is something that unites us all: The path we walk together.

Each of us brings a unique perspective that enriches our community.

We are all on a journey in search of our place in the world. “We all want to arrive.” This common longing for a destination, a place of belonging, unites us. The boy on the scooter symbolizes this dynamic and active path that we take to make our dreams come true.
“We all long for a place where we are accepted as we are” – with our colors, scars, desires and questions. Each scooter of life that we ride may be shaped differently, but it is the common desire for acceptance and understanding that drives us to keep riding and growing.

The figure of the boy on the scooter reminds us that there is immense strength in our diversity. By valuing and respecting each other, we can create a community where everyone is welcome and where we can all arrive. Let’s embark on this journey together and celebrate the beauty of our diversity.

The figure depicts a young man in his twenties, without clearly recognizable facial features. This is no coincidence, but a deliberate artistic device to show that identity and value are not tied to external features. This figure is Noah, but it could also be anyone else. She wants to express that Noah is dealing with issues such as diversity and toxic masculinity, questioning the superficiality of social expectations.

The outward appearance – overweight, dressed in jogging bottoms and a hoodie – may seem simple at first glance, but that is precisely where the challenge lies. It represents the image of a modern young adult, which clashes with classical ideas. A young man is often described as fit, muscular and full of energy to fit the ideal image of attractiveness and masculinity. But Noah aims to show that joie de vivre, well-being and masculinity have nothing to do with such external standards.

The empty facial features symbolize the idea that the figure could be anyone. It’s about society moving away from the idea of judging people by their appearance. The decision to portray Noah as overweight is a sign that body diversity exists and should be accepted without being burdened with negative connotations. Noah is not “fat but sweet” – he is simply himself, with all that that entails.”

His everyday clothing is a deliberate choice. It stands for the normality that many people live in. It is a break with the image of the constantly strong, flawless man who shows no weaknesses. The figure is intended to show that it is perfectly okay to have weaknesses and to be sensitive. Toxic masculinity often arises from the expectation to maintain a certain image of invulnerability and control. But true masculinity lies in acceptance, vulnerability and self-love.

Noah is meant to express a positive attitude towards life and the acceptance he has for himself. His excess weight is a part of him, but it does not define him. There is no need for justifications or euphemistic descriptions. Noah is happy and content because he is well – and that is exactly what the character wants to show the world. It is a strong statement against the silent norms that shape and restrict our image of the body and masculinity.

A punk is a very unusual character for a crèche group. He is actually regarded as a social outsider, is not always conformist or even well-behaved; sometimes he is even provocative and dismissive. But even underneath his mohawk and studs, he is a person with feelings.

The question of what led to his often self-imposed departure from the conformity of society can usually only be answered individually. The biblical figures were also outsiders: Mary and Joseph were socially underestimated and even had to make do with a stable for the birthplace of their son. It was precisely this son, born in such an unusual way, who later often went against the conventions of the recognized religious representatives and the state.

Punk also questions many things. There is a stylized crib on the back of his studded leather jacket – it shines brighter than the sharp studs. He needs a compass to help him find his way. For him, arriving means finding peace with his environment and himself.