Our Story
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My name is Caroline Lenoir. I grew up near Paris, in a charming old house just like the one in the Madeline stories. |
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Among many beautiful childhood memories, none are more vivid than those surrounding our nativity scene from Provence. Each December we searched for sand, moss, and twigs to build the landscape. Then we would place Saint Joseph and the Blessed Virgin Mary in the stable because “there was no room for them at the inn.” And after Midnight Mass, in the quiet of a cold winter night, one of us children would reverently place Baby Jesus in the manger. On Epiphany, the Wise Men joined the humble villagers in their 19th-century dress. |
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Years later, my husband and I were raising our young family in the San Francisco Bay Area. Christmas was dazzling: lights everywhere, towering trees, apple cider simmering with cinnamon on the stove. It was beautiful. Yet I felt something essential was missing. |
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I longed to recreate for my children the depth I had known. Not out of nostalgia, but out of conviction. I had seen how tradition shapes hearts, especially as children grow, when faith and values are tested. Teaching, I believed, must engage not only the mind, but also the imagination and the senses. |
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When I returned to France, I rediscovered the simple joy of collecting santons. I realized my American Catholic friends had never experienced a nativity scene like this because nativity figures in the US are very different. |
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So I reached out to a French designer and talented artisans, and CHATEAU de FANJEAU was born. Today we create heirloom nativity scenes in terracotta, inspired by French elegance and Catholic tradition. Little by little, the Nativity becomes a living village filled with characters, stories, and charm. It’s not simply a Christmas decoration. It’s a tradition to help you share your faith and values, and unite your family. It’s a legacy to be passed down for generations. |
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