Burb’s Eye View: Nativity Festival finds faith in the details

Last weekend’s Nativity Festival was big on spectacle, but the small things really left their mark.

Hundreds of Nativity scenes rimmed the auditorium at Burbank’s Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which means hundreds more wise men, shepherds, angels and saints. Bob Hope’s collection alone filled a long table — and dozens more were donated by local families for the two-day display.

Several overturned wine glasses stood among the scenes, each holding their own Nativities an inch wide at most. They were some of the most unusual and beautiful in the collection, and they weren’t the only ones Lily Alcantar owns.

“I collect Nativities — I just love them,” said Alcantar, a Burbank resident. “I have a whole Christmas tree full of them. I wanted to teach my kids about the real meaning of Christmas and this was a great way to do that.”

On Sunday night, dozens of families from throughout the San Fernando Valley filed through the auditorium to view the festival’s displays. Depictions in wood, glass, plastic — even a foam-core stand-up display from the Dwyer family using family photos as each character and animal — all served to honor the story of Christmas while also reflecting each family’s personal observances of the holiday.

The sheer volume was awe-inspiring, if not intimidating. William Anderson, a member of the Church of Latter-day Saints, had considered bringing his Nativity to the festival, but couldn’t find a manger big enough to house it.

“But, by golly, look at all the ones without stables — it’ll give me a little more courage to bring one next year,” he said.

While the crowd roamed the room, choirs from local schools and churches belted Christmas carols and lesser-known Christmas hymns.

The Mormon church held its first Nativity Festival in Burbank three years ago. Kallie Austin, the festival’s chairperson, said the event uses Nativities from residents and businesses in Burbank because “we wanted it to be a community thing where people can feel the real meaning of Christmas.”

The scenes themselves are a melting pot of cultural traditions, coming from as far as Europe and Africa.

“We thought we’d bring one from Guatemala, but they already have two,” said Maria Galiano as she and a friend toured the displays.

Those wanting to see all the displays often bumped into another line waiting to see a live nativity scene held outdoors at the church. Here, several church members reenacted the story of Jesus born in a manger after an innkeeper denied Mary and Joseph a room.

At the living Nativity, children were offered front-row seats. As the small pageant concluded, they approached young Summer Lauoletolo with reverence, asking to touch the baby’s hands and head.

It’s the little details that matter.
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BRYAN MAHONEY writes about Burbank neighbors and the place they call home. He can be reached at 818NewGuy@gmail.com and on Twitter at @818NewGuy.