There’s no time like the holidays.
They are a time of family, tradition and celebration – and of a very particular aesthetic. Wherever you live, from the Northeast to the Southwest, every household has that certain “idea” of what the holiday home looks like. And whether that’s a snow-covered lawn and a grand Christmas tree, a menorah shimmering on the windowsill or a palm tree adorned in multicolored lights, it just wouldn’t be the holidays without our favorite decorations.
Of course, for all the more secular traditions of our seasonal celebrations, there also are plenty of holiday decorations rooted in religious traditions. And while the origins of these religious items are fixed in history, a number of designers have begun producing modern takes on traditional pieces, giving people a new way to celebrate their faith with some added flair.
Perhaps the most recognizable religious décor from the holiday season is the nativity scene. The nativity scene, sometimes called the manger scene, depicts the birth of Jesus and often features a wide array of other characters and figures surrounding the baby Jesus. It has become a fixture, in various forms and styles, in many holiday living rooms.
“Obviously, throughout history, there’s a lot of passion behind that scene,” says Rich Roat, cofounder of House Industries, a Yorklyn, Delaware, design firm. “It’s one of the first things I remember: My grandmother setting up her nativity set. I think it’s something that’s pretty ingrained in the Latin world.”
Alessi, the Italy-based housewares and design company, for years has produced a line of whimsical Christmas figures and ornaments. These items are a great way for families to spread traditions from one generation to the next, says Paolo Cravedi, managing director of Alessi USA.
“Every year, in the tradition of the nativity scene, we keep adding new figurines and new characters,” Cravedi says. “I think that’s a way you can have something that is very respectful of the tradition, and of the religious traditions, but also have a very modern and unique take. Because you can see a lot of these nativity scenes … that are passed down from generation to generation, and they are (often) very expensive. So we think this is a very modern way to do it.”
Nativity scene designs have evolved over the centuries to reflect the changes in trends and styles of the day, and modern nativity scenes are no exception.
Roat’s House Industries produces a nativity scene based on wood-panel illustrations by famed American designer Alexander Girard. The scenes’ pieces are screen-printed by hand on locally sourced wood and, says Roat, were inspired by a visit to an exhibition on the late artist at the Museum of International Folk Art in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
“It was just a really cool piece that was really pretty, and that a lot of people could relate to – and, plus, we loved it,” Roat says. “And regardless of any religious (connection), it was just a really cool piece that we felt needed to see the light of day.”
The same sort of attitude toward religious décor as an artistic statement has also taken hold in the world of Judaica – specifically, Hanukkah-related items like the menorah, a seven- or nine-branched candelabra used to celebrate the holiday.
Laurie Gross, lead creative designer at Laurie Gross Studios in Santa Barbara, California, says that while her Judaica designs are very modern, they all are inspired by an interest in “uplifting the objects that we use for Jewish purposes.”
“The work that I do primarily comes out of my Jewish tradition,” Gross says. “I would say it’s an expression of my Jewish soul. So I have an interest in creating beautiful ritual objects.”
Gross says her first menorah design, an elegant glass sculpture, was inspired by an eastern European menorah from the 1800s that she had seen in a book, giving the piece a quality that embraces the menorah’s historical tradition.
“Today, there are people who have menorah collections, or dreidel collections when it comes to Hanukkah, so I think there is a bit more of awareness of having these objects in our homes as a way to signify our homes,” says Gross. “So I think it’s about identity, and I think it’s also about celebration at a time of year when everyone else is celebrating, too.”
Modern home décor and housewares company Jonathan Adler has featured uniquely designed Hanukkah items, including ceramic menorahs in fun designs, such as elephants, dachshunds and people (reversible with a young face on one side, an older face on the other).
The African heritage festival Kwanzaa boasts several distinct traditional items, including the kinara candleholder and the unity cup, that have become an important part of any celebration.
Whatever the holiday you are celebrating, tradition-inspired décor has come to represent more than just religion or history. It’s also an artistic symbol of the season, and designers recognize the weight these items carry.
“It’s something that we would never take lightly, because of how important they are,” Cravedi says. “And it’s a particular moment in life for everybody, the holidays, when families get together. Whether it’s a religious connotation, or if it’s just family getting together, it’s a very important moment for people.”
This article appears in Dec 11-17, 2014.
