HERBAL MANGER

Looking for a different display for Christmas?  Try making an herbal manger.  You can make the manger from scrap wood for either outside or inside and in any size from full to ornament!

There are options for what goes inside the manger too.

   

 

You can either plant with one of the creeping herbs (thyme) or . . .

 

 

 

create an arrangement of cut herbs (rosemary, thyme & lavender) using the following directions.  Either way you will have a unique display.

 

MATERIALS:
            Manger (any size) lined with plastic
            Wet Oasis
            Snippets of Herbs
            Gold balls, frankincense and myrrh (indoor optional)

DIRECTIONS:
            1. Cut and fit wet oasis in manger
            2. Add fresh cut herbs
            3. Add gold, frankincense and myrrh balls to decorate (optional)

MANGER HERBS:

Juniper – symbol of life/hope
                        Legend: Protected Holy family when pursued by Herod’s soldiers

Lady’s Bedstraw – symbol of humility
                        Legend: White blooms turned gold at Christ’s birth

Lavender – symbol of purity
                        Legend: Beloved by Mary and used in wash water of Christ’s clothes

Pennyroyal – symbol of wisdom
                        Legend: Bloomed at midnight of Christ’s birth

Rosemary – symbol of remembrance
                        Legend: Blooms changed color with Mary’s cloak during birth of Christ

Thyme – symbol of bravery
                        Legend: Picked by Joseph to scent the stable bed of Christ

Gold – symbol of royalty, authority
                        Used as currency and decoration

Frankincense – symbol of holiness and divinity
                        Used as incense and for holy anointing

Myrrh – symbol of sacrificial death
                        Used as an embalming herb and anointing oil

“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you;
he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you:
You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host
appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth
peace to men on whom his favor rests."
Luke 2:11-14