An Authentic Hungarian Nativity Set
- On December 19, 2011
- By Elder Bailey
- category Differences in Hungary
9
One of the senior missionaries in Budapest (Wendy Bagozzi) found a truly Hungarian nativity set at a Christmas market. When she asked about where the set was made, she was told that it was in Kaposvár. She then called us to see if we knew where the place was that made the pieces in Kaposvár.
We asked the people at Church and no one knew of where the pieces were made. We then got an address of the location, and realized that it was only one or two kilometers from the Branch House in Kaposvár. Elder Leavitt and his companion went to the address and purchased a nativity set for his mother, and called to tell us how to find the street.
We drove to the house on a cold, rainy afternoon. We rang the bell, and the lady who lived there answered the door (she only spoke Hungarian). She and her sons made the pieces, and kept what they made in a cupboard in their garage.
We purchased this nativity set for a very reasonable price. Does the one on the right really look like (and dress like) ‘Joseph’?
ORNELLA
is possible to buy a nativity set like this??
Jill
I am also LDS, collect nativities and was at a home of friends today after their report of 2 years in Budapest as senior missionaries. They had a set I believe must have been made by this woman. I would LOVE to have you buy a set for me if you would be willing. I will send you money ahead of time if that would help! I did this search after seeing our friends today!
Mary Ellen
I would so very much wish to buy one of these. I am collecting sets from the countries of my family’s heritage. I am half Hungarian and it is the only country I don’t have in my collection.
Judy
Will be on a river cruise that stops in Budapest in April. Can I find these nativities there? How far is Kaposvar from Budapest? Can anyone go to this woman’s home and purchase one? Thank you for any help you can give me.
Elder Bailey
Yes, you can buy the nativity set in Budapest at the ‘large market’. It will cost you a lot more in Budapest. Kaposvar is about 2-3 hours south of Budapest by car — it is an easy drive on a freeway, and then through the countryside. You can go to her home, and she will show you all that she has for sale — she sells other models besides the nativity sets.
Karen Phelps
It truly is a small world, I have been trolling the internet trying to find nativities from around the world and found this site, second time I’ve found a great site and discovered it’s LDS folks like me. Funny, too funny. I loved Budapest, liked Prague better but would love to go back some day.
Theresa Bartlett
Can I order one of these nativity sets?
Elder Bailey
They are made in Kaposvar, and sold from cupboards located in a small garage. The woman who makes them does not speak English. We may be back in Hungary by August of 2014, so let me know if you want us to check with her at that time.
valerie
Can I order some of these from them? If so how and how much?