Live: Joseph, Mary, Baby

There isn’t a Santa Claus in sight. Or reindeer. In fact, there’s not even much in the way of lights to draw visitors’ attention to the scene being played out at the Pistey house. But that doesn’t seem to stop the crowds.

For in a neighborhood where light shows dominate, the Pistey family opted to go back to the roots of the Christmas holiday: the birth of Christ.

As a devout Christian, Paula Pistey said she wanted to find a way to show that “Jesus is the reason for the season.” The result: a live Nativity scene.

When Pistey and her husband, Casey, closed escrow on their home in Fountain Valley last spring, she wasn’t thrilled to learn that every December the neighborhood turns into a showcase of holiday lights and decorations.

Prospective homeowners are warned that the housing tract off Brookhurst Street near Mile Square Regional Park cordons off its streets during weekend nights to avoid gridlock and that residents must have vehicle passes to enter. (Visiting sightseers have to park elsewhere and walk through the tract on weekends, although it is open to drivers during the week.)

What was most troubling to Pistey was the emphasis on the holiday lights rather than the message of Christmas, she said. But instead of boycotting the neighborhood tradition, Pistey, her husband and friends decided to place a live Nativity scene in front of the simply decorated Gladiola Avenue home.

The Pisteys and a group of friends dress up as Mary, Joseph, the three wise men and angels. They read Scripture, engage the crowds in conversation or lead them in carols.

As for decorations, a wooden frame, a manger and strewn hay spotlighted in white light serve as the centerpiece on the front lawn. A few strings of traditional holiday lights trim the house.

The cast of rotating biblical characters made its appearance last weekend, took a midweek break and reappeared Thursday night for the “shows,” which are to be presented through tonight. Most nights, a doll is used to depict Jesus, but a friend portraying Mary brought her 6-month-old baby, Justina Bourne, for the part Thursday and plans for the two to return tonight.

“It brings tears to your eyes. It’s what Christmas is all about,” said Marie Lee of Huntington Beach, who has been visiting the neighborhood for 15 years. As her friends moved on, Lee, 60, lingered on the Pisteys’ lawn.

“After all the hustle and bustle that goes on and then you see something like this, it makes you stop and think,” Lee said.

Paula Pistey’s enthusiasm has grown with each family-room costume call.

At the time of the home purchase, she wasn’t sure she would participate in what some residents describe as an event of Disneyland proportions.

“We really didn’t want to decorate [the house], but then we decided on doing the live Nativity scene,” she said. “We looked at this as an opportunity to show the real meaning of Christmas.”

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Part of her motivation came from a small women’s Bible study group started two years ago. The group of four women from Westminster Calvary Chapel decided this year they would skip their traditional gift exchange and put their time and money into the Nativity project.

“The growth this year . . . has been amazing,” Pistey said. “We’ve changed a lot. We decided that we have enough and let’s not give anything to each other anymore.”

Still, Pistey was uncertain about reaction from neighbors to the focus on Jesus’ birthday. Although there are other homes in the 75-house tract with Nativity scenes, the majority of the displays are of the Santa variety.

“I was very nervous about it, but I think we have become welcomed in our neighborhood because of what we have done,” she said.

The Pisteys’ display is an obvious crowd-pleaser. As many as 30 people at a time gather in front of the home, on the sidewalk and spill into the street. Awe-struck children, some sitting in patio chairs, tug at parents ready to move on, asking them to stay longer.

Buena Park residents Julie Morton, her husband and three children toured most of the neighborhood before stopping in front of the Pistey house. They were one of many families who stepped into the scene for a photo opportunity. “This makes the old ticker go,” she said. “This one has a lot of meaning.”

For Paula Pistey, that sentiment makes the effort worthwhile.

“People are excited. They are just in awe over the fact that somebody would do this,” she said.