Our nativity scene always went under the Christmas tree, usually with a backdrop of whatever scenery we had created that year. The nativity figurines were made by my brother’s scout group. For something that had been handmade by a seven-year-old, they were actually quite spectacular.
Eventually, the nativity scene stopped making its annual appearance. I was never really sure why. Some of the pieces had been chipped over time, and there was an overall faded quality to them, but I thought, for the most part, they still looked good.
The Tradition and Meaning Behind the Nativity Scene
The nativity scene is one that is familiar to nearly everyone, even those who don’t celebrate Christmas. Figurines of Mary and Joseph, usually accompanied by a baby Jesus placed in a manger, sit stoically inside a stable. Three wise men look on, and ours came with a host of barnyard animals and an angel overseeing everything.
Our figures were made to mimic pewter, but they come in just about any medium, from glass to plastic, wood, or ceramic. I used to get in trouble for acting out the Christmas story with the figures. To this day, I’m not really convinced that it was all that blasphemous since I was only having them act out the birth of Jesus and didn’t venture into other areas of playacting.
Either way, the figures were considered sacred, and my playacting days were swiftly brought to a close. The term nativity actually means “the birthplace of,” so when we speak of the Nativity Scene, we are simply referring to the birthplace of Jesus. Of course, we know that the birthplace of Jesus was in Bethlehem, although he is also called Jesus of Nazareth.
According to the story, while Mary was indeed blessed with child through immaculate conception, there was no place for her to give birth to Jesus. Mary and Joseph had searched far and wide before finding the stable that would be the site of the miraculous birth. Critical atheists believe this could not have happened, as there was little to authenticate Mary’s story of innocence.
Despite the critics and skeptics, Christians believe that the wise men were guided by a star in the sky to find the child who was to become the King of the Jews. The wise men are believed to have entered Jerusalem in search of Jesus’ birthplace. The news was said to have struck fear into the heart of King Herod, who sent men to question all who might know where this child was born.
Shepherds in a nearby field were said to have received a visit from the angel of the Lord, who announced the birth of Jesus. Upon hearing of the promises Jesus could fulfill, the shepherds rushed to find the stable where the infant was born to witness his earthly presence.
Again, critics voice discomfort with this part of the story, claiming that angelic visitation is nothing more than a hallucination. It has been argued by critics and atheists alike that, by today’s standards, an angelic visitation would be considered either a lie, a plea for attention, or a sign of hallucinations caused by drugs or mental illness. So, the question arises: how can it be considered acceptable as fact from a time when there was little documentation or proof?
Defenders of the nativity story argue that it is true because there is concrete evidence for those who look for it. Some even believe that the remains of the Ark of the Covenant have been discovered and are waiting for the funds to begin an archaeological dig.
The nativity will forever have those who dismiss it as a fairy tale or legend, and those who embrace it as gospel. Cold, hard, irrefutable facts have yet to be unearthed, though the faithful will tell you that is exactly what makes faith what it is. There are aspects of faith that must be accepted as faith facts. Regardless of personal beliefs, the nativity scene is something that nearly everyone understands and enjoys, whether as a statement of faith or as a blessed fairy tale filled with hope.
