Mary (Singapore)
The bodies of this and all the figures in this nativity from Singapore are made from the trunk of the cinnamon tree. While the bark of this tree is ground into cinnamon, the trunk is ground into a powder and mixed with water to form a soft dough. The figures are formed on a wire armature, with the soft dough molded around it. The dough is then allowed to dry. The entire process takes anywhere from 2 1/2-15 hours, depending on the intricacy of the figure. This set was made by the Tay Guan Heng family, whose main occupation is making joss sticks for use in Hindu temples. Note the intricate folds of Mary's flowing garment, with its long wide sleeves.

Giving opportunity of the day:
Give tools and seeds for harvest

Meditation of the day
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