Assistant Principal - Religious Identity & Mission 

Do you put out a nativity scene each Christmas? Did you know that there are specific positions assigned for each of the figures in the Christmas Nativity, and has been so since the Middle Ages?   

Jesus in the centre of attention  

The baby Jesus is always in the centre and all the other characters are positioned around the crib.  

Left side: Mary, the ox, the shepherd, and the sheep  

Mary is sitting or kneeling to the right of the child. Seen by the spectator, she is on the left. Behind or next to her is the ox, which does not actually appear in Luke's Gospel but is considered a kosher animal and symbolizes the people of Israel and Christianity. From the left, ie. from Mary's side, the shepherds approach with their sheep. They represent the believers who bring sacrificial animals, food and clothing.  

The right side: Joseph, the donkey, the three wise men  

Joseph is on the left side of the baby Jesus, that is, on the right if seen by the viewer. Next to Joseph is the donkey, also not mentioned in Luke's Gospel. The donkey is interpreted as an impure animal and symbolizes non-religious or even pagan people. Therefore, also the three wise men. Gaspar, Melchior and Balthazar are the "wise men of the East" who donate gold, incense and myrrh. With youth, middle age and old age, they are on the one hand a symbol for the different stages of people's lives. On the other hand, their origins from Africa, Asia and Europe are associated with the three continents known at the time. Since Melchior represents the European continent and therefore the West, the designation "Three ... from the East" is actually not entirely correct.  

The Nativity Stable  

The stable serves as an improvised shelter and is mentioned in both the Gospels of Luke and Matthew. Nowhere else can Mary and Joseph find a place to stay. In this stable, according to the Christmas story, the baby Jesus is born. Since she has no other bed, Mary puts the baby in a manger full of hay. 

One or more angels  

The main Angel acts as an announcer and symbolizes the angel Gabriel who informed the shepherds of the birth of Jesus Christ. This angel is usually mounted above the crib. The raised position is important because for the shepherds, the angel was a celestial phenomenon they had to look at.  

The comet star  

The star serves as a guide for the shepherds on their way to the stable in Bethlehem. It does not necessarily have to be integrated into the crib scene. You can also choose to use a "normal" star without a tail or a comet star. However, the star is such a significant element of Christmas history that many people attach it to the roof of the crib barn or hang it above the hut. The star symbolizes the complete process of Jesus' birth and only appears from this moment on in the dark sky of the Holy Night.   

https://www.lignoma.com/en/magazine/how-to-properly-place-the-nativity-figures/ 

However you arrange your Nativity scene, what’s important is that you’re celebrating the birth of Jesus. Setting up your Christmas tree and displaying a traditional Nativity scene, reminds us that ‘Jesus is the reason for the season’. 

As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, may His light illuminate your path and His peace fill your heart. Wishing you a Christmas filled with heavenly blessings.