Online Encyclopedia
Nativity
The Nativity refers to the birth of Jesus.
According to the Bible, Jesus was born in the city of Bethlehem in a stable, surrounded by farm animals and shepherds. The baby Jesus was born into a manger from the Virgin Mary assisted by her husband Joseph. The odd location of the birth was the result of the refusal of a nearby inn to accommodate the expecting couple. Though Three wise men from the East are commonly depicted to have visited the event, bearing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, the Bible records the coming of an unspecified number of wise men as being a few years after Jesus' birth.
Remembering or re-creating the Nativity is one of the central ways that Christians celebrate Christmas. In Christian churches, children often perfom plays re-creating the events of the Nativity, or sing some of the numerous Christmas carols that reference the event. Many Christians also display a small re-creation of the Nativity known as a Nativity scene in their homes, using small figurines to portray the key characters of the event.
Though Jesus's birth is celebrated on December 25, most scholars agree that it is unlikely he was actually born on this date.