In the 1960's Nativity Scenes or Creches were imported from Germany in small quantities and from Italy.  The Italien versions captured the market toward the end of the 1950s because of their nice detail and lower price than the German version.  Some of the department stores would sell the individual peices  at very affordable prices  The Italien figures ranged in size from 3 in to 16 in and the detailing was of high quality.  During the 1960's the Santon Figures from France started to become of interest to collectors.  In 1960, an unbreakable acetate plastic set of 17 pieces was produced by Hartland Plastics Inc.  In the early part of the decade painted village sets were imported from Japan.  These village houses included scalloped roof edges, balconies, sponge trees placed in front of the houses and cellophane windows.  During the middles of the 1960's a less expensive version was imported from Japan and by the end of the decade the houses were made of cardboard and just painted.  Small sponge trees were placed off to the side and roofs were painted white. 

In the 1970's , Italy became the main importer of Creches.  The detail of the Italien imports out did those of German and Japanese.  Village Houses being placed under the tree declined, but American and Japan continued to manufacture affordable sets.  Over 90 percent of the Houses purchased were manufactured in Japan.

In the 1980's Snow Baby figures became popular.  Dept 56 began the ever popular village collections with the Original Snow Village which was fashion after the age old tradition of Putz scenes. 

In the 1990s Germany began producing the elegant papier mache creche figures.  France's tradition of manufacturing dressed nativity figures continued and became more popular each year.  In 1994 Italy introduced the Fortanini Golden Edition Nativity the  14 peice set was limited to an edition of 2.500.  In 1990 Dept 56 introduced The North Pole Series.