Heartland Cradlesong —
the 2007 National Convention of the Friends of the Creche

The theme of the 2007 national convention of Friends of the Creche is "Heartland Cradlesong". The convention will be held Thursday 8 November - Saturday 10 November in the Embassy Suites Hotel, Dublin/Columbus Ohio.

Why "heartland"? Location! Why "Cradlesong"? Music! This convention in America's heartland will have a special emphasis on sacred music related to the creche. The talented musicians at the nearby Church of Millrun are busy preparing a special program of music and dialogue for Friday evening of the convention.

Besides music and art, we will be looking at regional creche traditions in the Ohio River Valley. These will include German and Scandinavian manger scenes and Eastern Orthodox (Greek and Russian) Nativity representations.

Another subject to be addressed will be "Plants in the Manger". There are scores of herbs with creche-related legends that might surprise you. Do you know why the flower of the rosemary changed from white to blue at the time of the Nativity? Hint: It has to do with wash day and Mary's mantel.

We will be hearing more on the subjects of photographing and displaying your creches and something entirely different - placement of the manger figures. Yes, there is a traditional place to set the kings and another for the angel. Who knew?

Important pieces from the creche collection of the International Marian Research Center at the University of Dayton will be featured in the Manger Museum. And let's not forget the Manger Mart where you can find that "gotta have" set you didn't even know you were looking for.

Food, fun and down-home hospitality will be the trademark of this convention. Besides the grand closing banquet, lunch will also be served at the hotel as one of the convention functions. There may even be other tasty surprises. One thing for sure, there will be plenty of time for friends of the creche to meet and mingle.