Lobster wise men ornaments are miniature versions of the three kings dressed in seafood style. They put the nativity’s most colorful visitors into New England coastal culture, with a wink. Our Three Wise Men ornament is made for exactly this. It hangs on the tree, sits on a mantel, and gets people talking at every holiday party. Below is what these ornaments are, where the idea came from, how to display them, how to care for them and how to pick the right one for your household or your gift list.
TL;DR
- Lobster wise men ornaments reimagine the three kings of the nativity with a lobster and New England coastal twist.
- You can buy a wise men ornament on its own, pair it with a Holy Family ornament, or add it to a full lobster nativity set.
- They work on a tree, on a mantel, in a window or on a shelf, and they suit families, ornament collectors and gift shoppers.
- Keep them out of direct sunlight, dust them gently and store them dry so the paint and detail last for years.
- You can see our wise men ornament, the family ornament and the full sets on our site, linked below.
Table of Contents
- What lobster wise men ornaments are
- Where the lobster nativity idea comes from
- Designs and formats to choose from
- Why lobsters say New England
- How to display lobster wise men ornaments
- Caring for your ornaments so they last
- Wise men ornaments as gifts
- Get your wise men
- FAQ
- Sources
What lobster wise men ornaments are
The three wise men are the traditional visitors who bring gifts to the nativity. Most ornaments of them follow a familiar pattern: three robed figures, crowns, gift boxes, maybe a camel. A lobster wise men ornament keeps the story and changes the cast. The kings become lobsters, and the whole piece borrows from the look of the Maine and Massachusetts waterfront.
The appeal is the contrast. The nativity is one of the most familiar scenes of the season, so everyone knows what they are looking at. The lobster twist makes people look twice, and then smile. That reaction is the whole point. A well-made novelty ornament gives a household a small story to tell each December: where it came from, who gave it, why a lobster is wearing a crown.
These are different from the generic red lobster ornaments you see in nautical decor, such as a lone glass or wooden lobster in a Santa hat. Those are a coastal accent. A lobster wise men ornament is a character in a scene, and it works best when you understand the scene it belongs to.
Where the lobster nativity idea comes from
The lobster nativity has a specific and funny origin. According to Religion News Service, the Lobster Nativity Scene was inspired in part by a moment in the 2003 British comedy Love Actually. In it, a character played by Emma Thompson is surprised to learn that one of her children is cast as the “first lobster” in a school Christmas pageant.
That joke grew into a real product. The same report notes that Christopher Alfonso eventually bought the rights to the sets and began selling them online and at a holiday market. So the lobster nativity is not a mass-produced gag. It started as a pageant joke and became a small New England business that is still run by a person.
The wise men are a natural part of that story. If the first lobster can be in the pageant, the three kings can arrive in lobster form too. Our ornaments carry that same lighthearted spirit: affectionate toward the tradition, not poking at it.
Designs and formats to choose from
The nativity can be bought in several shapes, and the choice depends on how you plan to use it. According to the Religion News Service report, the Lobster Nativity Scene has Christmas ornaments covering the whole nativity set, just the Holy Family, or the wise men. That gives you three clear entry points.
| Format | Best for | Where to look |
|---|---|---|
| Three Wise Men ornament | Adding the kings to a tree or giving a themed gift | The Three Wise Men ornament |
| Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus ornament | The Holy Family as a tree-sized piece | The Family ornament |
| Full Lobster Nativity Scene | A mantel or table centerpiece with hand-painted, movable figures | The Lobster Nativity Scene |
| Nativity and ornament bundle | Starting a display and a tree collection together | Nativity and Ornament bundle |
| Brass ornaments | Collectors who like a metal finish on the tree | Brass ornaments |
Our sets come in lobster trap packaging, which is part of the charm. The box itself nods to the working waterfront, so the gift feels finished before it is even opened. Check each product page for current pricing, availability and pre-order status, since these change through the season.
Single ornament or full set?
If you want one dependable answer: buy the wise men ornament if you already have a nativity or want the simplest gift, and buy the full set if you want a display piece the family can rearrange. The hand-painted figures in our sets are movable, which suits households that like to stage the scene, with the kings inching toward the manger across the weeks of December.
Mixing and matching over the years
Collectors often start small. A common pattern is to begin with the Holy Family ornament one year, add the wise men the next, and move up to the full scene later. Because the ornament line covers the Holy Family and the kings separately, you can build the story in stages rather than all at once.
Why lobsters say New England
Lobsters are not random here. They are a regional symbol, and holiday decor in New England already uses them.
Gloucester, Massachusetts, offers a good example. Riverdale Mills describes the city as home to the modern lobster trap and to the Lobster Trap Tree tradition, conceived by Janice Lufkin Shea in 2001. In 2023, for the city’s 400th anniversary, a tree about 45 feet tall was built from 400 lobster traps. If a community can turn working gear into a Christmas tree, a lobster in a king’s crown is not much of a leap.
Holiday markets show the same pull. Boston Magazine noted that a new vendor at Boston’s Snowport Holiday Market in 2025 offered handprinted linens with lobsters, nautical stripes and ocean hues, pitched as New England maritime heritage without the kitsch. Shoppers there want coastal character that still feels crafted and personal.
That is where a handcrafted lobster wise men ornament sits. It carries the regional symbol, the humor and the handmade feel in one small object, which is why it appeals to New Englanders who want local art and to people elsewhere who want a piece of the coast.
How to display lobster wise men ornaments
The ornaments are small, so the display does the work. These are arrangements that suit most homes.
On the tree
Hang the wise men toward the middle or lower branches where guests can see the detail. Keep them near a warm white light rather than buried in the dense interior. If you hang the Holy Family on the same tree, put them a little higher and the kings lower and to one side, as if the kings are still traveling. A coastal-leaning palette of red, white and blue plays well with them, the kind of look described by Dabbling and Decorating as collected and lived-in rather than overly themed.
On a mantel or shelf
Any ornament can come off the tree. Stand or rest the wise men on a mantel with greenery, a few pillar candles (LED are a safer choice near a mantel) and a lobster trap or wooden crate as a riser. Pair them with the full nativity if you have it, and set the kings at the far end of the shelf so they can “arrive” over the season.
In a window or on a wreath
Hang the kings from a ribbon in a window facing a street. The lobster color reads from a distance, and neighbors are likely to notice. For a wreath, choose a simple evergreen base with a few cones so the ornament is the focus.
Table settings and gift toppers
One wise man tied to a gift is a small second present. Put a different king on each of three place settings at a holiday dinner and the guests take them home as favors.
Staging the story with kids
Many families walk the kings across the room toward the nativity from the first week of December until Epiphany. Children enjoy the ritual, and a lobster in a crown makes it funnier. The movable figures in our sets are made for this kind of play.
Our perspective
We started from one belief: a holiday decoration should make people happy to see it. The nativity is a tradition many families treasure, and we make our lobster version in that spirit, with warmth and affection for the story and for the coast we love.
The wise men are where the idea comes alive. They are the most colorful characters in the scene, so they take the lobster treatment best. Our hand-painted, movable figures and our lobster trap packaging come from the same place: New England working waterfront culture, turned into something you can put on your mantel.
We would rather you buy one ornament you love than a dozen you forget. Start with the kings, add the Holy Family, and let the collection grow with your family.
Christopher
Caring for your ornaments so they last
An ornament you love is one you want to unwrap for many Decembers. Care for hand-painted and collectible pieces comes down to a few habits.
- Keep them out of direct sunlight. Giant Sculptures notes that most figurine materials are damaged by direct sun, with paint dulling and colors fading. A shelf against an interior wall or a spot with only indirect light is better than a sunny window.
- Prefer LED lighting. The same guide recommends LED over halogen for display lighting. On a tree, that means LED strings.
- Dust gently. A soft, lint-free cloth or natural bristle brush does the job. For a deeper clean, use a slightly damp cloth with a tiny amount of mild soap and never submerge the piece.
- Handle by the body. Pick pieces up by the solid part, not by thin extremities such as crowns, arms or antennae.
- Store dry. Wrap each piece in tissue, put it in a box and keep it away from humidity and heat until next season. The original lobster trap packaging is a good keeper for sets.
For brass ornaments, a soft dry cloth is a sensible default, and the guidance above about avoiding moisture still holds. If you are unsure about a specific piece, write to us and we will help.
Wise men ornaments as gifts
The ornament works as a gift for several types of people: the New England transplant who misses the coast, the collector who has everything with a tree on it, the family that likes a funny tradition, and the host who gets too many candles. It is small enough to mail, light enough to tuck in a card, and unusual enough to be remembered.
If you are building a wider list, a Christmas gift guide is a useful way to compare ideas across budgets and recipients. A lobster wise men ornament fits the gap in such a list: it is personal, local-feeling and light-hearted, which a standard gift often is not.
A few pairing ideas that need no extra shopping:
- The wise men ornament plus a handwritten note about the Love Actually “first lobster” joke.
- The Holy Family and the kings together, as a two-part set for a couple’s first tree.
- A full nativity for the household and a single ornament for each child.
- The bundle for someone who wants a display piece and a tree piece at once.
Pre-order status and shipping timing vary during the season, so check the product page before you count on a delivery date for a specific holiday.
Get your wise men
Our Three Wise Men ornament brings the three kings to your tree with a New England coastal accent. If you want the whole story, browse the Lobster Nativity Scene collection, or see the Nativity and Ornament bundle to start with both a display piece and an ornament. Everything is handcrafted, and our sets arrive in lobster trap packaging.
If you prefer metal on the tree, see our brass ornaments. For more on the coastal look, read our guide to New England Christmas ornaments.
FAQ
What are lobster wise men ornaments?
They are ornaments that show the three kings of the nativity as lobsters, with a New England coastal twist. They keep the familiar story and swap in a regional symbol. Ours is a handcrafted piece made for trees, mantels and gifts.
Can I buy the wise men separately from the rest of the nativity?
Yes. The Lobster Nativity Scene line includes ornaments for the whole nativity, for just the Holy Family or for just the wise men, as Religion News Service reported. You can start with the kings and add the other figures later.
How should I display them?
Hang them in the middle of a tree where light reaches them, or set them on a mantel with greenery and a wooden crate as a riser. Many families move the kings closer to the manger each day through December. Keep them away from direct sun so the paint stays bright.
Are they a good gift?
They suit anyone who loves New England, collects novelty ornaments or enjoys a funny holiday tradition. They are small, easy to ship and easy to pair with a note about the lobster nativity’s story.
How do I care for them?
Dust with a soft, lint-free cloth, avoid direct sunlight and humidity, and handle them by the body rather than the thin parts. Wrap each piece in tissue and store it dry between seasons.
Sources
- Lobster Jesus: Sacrilege or the most New England Nativity ever (Religion News Service)
- Riverdale Mills: its wire anchors an iconic Christmas tradition
- Where to Shop, Eat, and Play at Boston’s Snowport Holiday Market (Boston Magazine)
- Collectible Figurines: Types & Values (Giant Sculptures)
- Antique Booth Photo Tour (Dabbling and Decorating)