What Does the Nativity Mean to You?

By Grace B. Madrinan

Nativity scene.  Belen.  You see it everywhere during Christmas season. But due to consumerism, sometimes it becomes nothing more but a Christmas ornament.

 

But what does it really mean to us Christians?  Below are some of our friends who shared photos of their own Nativity scene and what it means to them.

 “Jesus is the reason for this season. A Savior is born.  Christmas is not the same without the Nativity scene in every home” - Ningning Del Rosario, Las Pinas City, Philippines

“"The Belen reminds us of Jesus uniting all people to His presence; sharing His life to bring to our family light, healing, peace, hope, happiness, and love." - Pietro Albano, Nottingham, United Kingdom

“I am always in expectation of the best gift - our Savior. I know He is there all the time, but Christmas is the time when all the decors and our belens come out of their boxes; it is a good reminder to reflect, contemplate and be refreshed too.

I am reminded of forgiveness - both giving and receiving. Our savior is the most humble being born in a manger and I relate that to the humility we need to be able to give and ask forgiveness from those whom we have hurt or those who have wronged us.

Finally, it reminds me of family - dad, mom and a baby (even the sheep are like our pets at home). I especially miss my dad who passed away last year. It reminds me of the love that keeps a family strong despite distance, despite challenges and trials.”

-       Celine Yap-Mendoza, Penang, Malaysia

For me, the Belen reminds me of the simplicity of the Christmas season.  When everyone is out in chaos looking for and even worrying about what to give or receive this Christmas, the Nativity is a reminder of what matters most – family and love. 

May this season be a joyous one no matter where we are. Merry Christmas!

Nativity Scene

The Nativity Scene is one of the oldest and most beloved Christmas traditions, but do you know how it started and how it is called in other parts of the world? Today, we will discuss the Nativity Scene and its origins.


1. According to St Luke the Evangelist (2:7) Jesus was born in a stable or at least in a place where animals were kept. In fact the word presepio (Nativity Scene) comes from the Latin verb praesepire (to enclose, to hedge, to fence) and today it means manger or crib.

2. The Nativity scene is the French crèche, the Italian presipio, the German krippe, the Spanish nacimiento, the English crib, or the Filipino belen. A crèche is a three-dimensional artistic representation of the birth of Jesus. While focusing on the central figures of the mother Mary and the Christ Child, crèche artists often telescope time and place to bring together a host of earthly and heavenly participants - shepherds, animals, angels, wise men, and commoners.

3. The origin of the Nativity scene is often first ascribed to Saint Francis of Assisi, who in 1223 celebrated the Feast of the Nativity in a new way that led to a new devotional practice to convey the idea of Christmas to an illiterate congregation. It is believed that local shepherds, guarding their flocks outside the small Italian town of Greccio, inspired him. Saint Francis had real people dressed in biblical robes, and real animals positioned outside a cave on the outskirts of Greccio. In the manager was a life sized wax figure of the infant Jesus.

4. A creche traditionally includes two animals: an ox and a donkey. These were the two animals participating in St. Francis' creche because he wanted to allude to Isaiah 1:3 which states "The ox knows its owner, and the ass its master's crib; but Israel does not know, my people does not understand."

5. Most of the time, others tend to simply sit all the players out and leave them there for the whole Christmas season. However in many other countries like the Philippines, we add and remove characters based on the day. So for example, the manger should be empty until Christmas Day. The next day shepherds show up. But not until early January do the wise men show up (by which time the shepherds have returned to their duties). And the creche should stay up until February 2nd, which is the feast day of the Presentation of the Lord.