Nativities from Around the World Featured at Seward’s Christmas Festival Hosted by Fernanda Flores Leyva

November 28, 2023

Launch the media gallery 1 player

Seward High senior, Fernanda Flores Leyva volunteered to host the international display of ‘Nativities from Around the World” at the annual Seward Christmas Festival and official Christmas opening on November 25^th in Seward.  She helped arrange the exhibit, posted the posters to promote the event and served as the official host for the entire day at the Civic Center. She and her family moved to Seward from Chihuahua, Mexico-so she has a real understanding of the international aspect of the exhibit.  

“I enjoyed sharing the special message that the nativity scenes convey,” shared Fernanda. “I also was amazed at the variety of nativities exhibited-they truly say Christmas is here!”

There were almost 100 Nativity Crèche’s on display by the Seward Community in the Seward Civic Center for the Seward Christmas Festival from various families in the Seward Community in the AV Room. The exhibit was free and open to the public for one day only-at the Christmas Festival on November 25^th from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm!  After the exhibit, the nativity scenes and figures will return to the homes of families in Seward just in time for Christmas.

Launch the media gallery 2 player

“The theme for the Seward Christmas Festival was “Home for the Holidays” and the committee felt that the family nativity scenes represented a Christmas tradition in many homes for the Christmas Holiday.  There was a real variety of crèche’s on display from almost twenty different countries-representing home to families worldwide,” commented Donna Hendrickson-Christmas Festival Chair for the SCCDP.  “We appreciated the families taking time to bring their collections and nativity scenes to be featured for our one Festival day and hope that the community enjoyed the message shared by viewing the many different nativities.”

“We appreciated the opportunity to share the message of the Christ child this holiday season,” noted Marilyn Bork of Seward-one of the exhibitors of nativity scenes.  “It is also impressive to view the nativities from around the world and see that the message is still consent- the Christ Child came into the world in a humble surroundings to save mankind-regardless of culture or heritage- it is a universal message. Our family was happy to share some of our nativities for the exhibit.”

A note of special thanks is extended to Erin Wiseman, Carson Core and Sjoen Munk at the Seward Civic Center, who assisted with the arrangements for the day long exhibit.  The one day exhibit was coordinated for the committee by Clark Kolterman and he can be reached at clark.kolterman@sewardschools.org or call 402-641-8522.