Walk into any West Texas grandma’s house at Christmas (sometimes even year-round), and you’ll immediately spot the most dangerous item in the room: her nativity scene.
It’s not decoration. It’s not tradition. It is the hill she will die on. One wrong comment about a Wise Man and she’ll take you out faster than you take out bags of cat litter on a hot day with no A/C.
Hands Off Baby Jesus
First rule: don’t touch Baby Jesus. He does not go in the manger until Christmas morning, and if you place him early, Grandma will revoke your holiday plate and possibly your inheritance. This is sacred territory, and these rules aren’t to be taken lightly. You know by the number of switches she pulled off the tree out front when you were 9.
Wise Guys
Then there are the Wise Men, who, for one reason or another, never seem to match. One’s porcelain, one’s plastic, one looks like he escaped a yard sale in Muleshoe. Point it out? She’ll look at you like you just insulted her entire existence. This is a no-go.
The Creepy Sheepy
And the animals? Historically inaccurate doesn’t even begin to cover it. There’s always a sheep missing an eye, a donkey that looks hungover, and a random buffalo Grandma added because “it’s West Texas, sweetheart, calm down.” It is what it is. Don’t question your Mamaw.
Holy Hot Glue
The angel isn’t floating so much as leaning forward like she wants to speak to the manager, but Grandma insists she’s “perfectly fine” despite being held together with prayer and hot glue. I think she’s suffering…
I Get The Camel!
The real chaos begins when relatives casually claim ownership of pieces. People fight over that chipped camel like it’s prime real estate. And think about it. Where did this leave Granny? Nobody is fighting over her! What about all those chicken and dumplings she’s made for you over the years? Don’t fight over your Granny’s stuff. Fight over her love.
In the end, Grandma’s nativity isn’t about accuracy — it’s her masterpiece. But challenge her arrangement? That’s how Christmas turns into a full-blown bar fight. Leave your elderly relatives’ nativity scenes alone, no matter how odd you might find them…