WA Advent Calendar 2025 - December 25th

byGail-UK

3.8K followers

6 hrs ago

Happy Christmas, one and all - today is December 25th, and it's Christmas Day!

This is our final Advent calendar in our series, and so today we are stepping right back to the beginning. Long before the presents, the tree, the feasting and the glitter, there was a story, a very quiet one at the time, about a baby born in extraordinary circumstances, in a tiny corner of the ancient world.

Now I'm aware that this platform is a non-religious space, and I also know that many people follow many different religions, but we cannot discuss Christmas without talking about the reason that it started, which was the nativity story. And that's true whatever you believe. So today, we have a Nativity Scene, which is, after all, the reason that we started celebrating Christmas in the first place.

The Christmas Story: History, Hope and the Origins of Christmas

According to the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, Mary and Joseph travelled to Bethlehem because of a census. With no room at the inn, Mary gave birth in humble surroundings, which are often described as a stable, and laid the newborn Jesus in a manger. Shepherds came after hearing angels proclaim a message of peace on Earth. Later, Magi from the east arrived, following a star, bringing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

It’s a story of vulnerability and hope - of light entering a troubled world quietly rather than triumphantly. and it's lasted for over 2000 years.

We had a Nativity Scene in our family for years - it was a simple plastic model about the size of one of the larger Harry Potter novels. I don't know what happened to that, but I then had a small one made of characters that I could arrange myself, made of painted clay. I still have this to this day.

From tiny wooden figures on a mantelpiece to elaborate outdoor displays, school plays and blockbuster movies, nativities have become one of the most recognisable symbols of Christmas around the world. But their story began much earlier, and much more simply, than many people realise.

Where nativity scenes began

The tradition is usually traced back to St Francis of Assisi in 1223. According to early accounts, Francis wanted to help ordinary people understand the meaning of Christmas in a more vivid, accessible way.

Since many folk back then couldn't read or write, pictures and images were a powerful way to tell stories - as indeed they are today. So, in the Italian village of Greccio, he created the first live nativity complete with a manger, ox, and donkey. He held a simple Mass service around it, lit by candles.

People were deeply moved. It brought the Christmas story out of books and churches and into everyday life in a way they could see and feel.

From that moment, the idea spread. There is no evidence that people were involved in St Francis' scene, but later medieval reenactments did include actors, playing the main historical characters.

How nativity scenes developed

By the 14th and 15th centuries, churches across Italy, Spain and Germany began creating carved wooden displays of the nativity. Wealthy families commissioned elaborate sets; villages created simple handmade ones.

The tradition evolved into two key forms:

• Static nativity sets – carved or sculpted figures of the Holy Family, shepherds and animals
• Live reenactments – a continuation of the original Franciscan idea, often performed outdoors, and these have continued down to the nativity plays often enacted in nursery and primary schools today

By the 18th century, nativity scenes had become part of Christmas in homes across Europe.

The many versions we see today

One of the loveliest things about nativity scenes is how different cultures re-imagine them in their own style:

Italy – Presepe

Often intricate, with whole miniature villages, bakers, fishermen and craftsmen included. Some Italian sets have dozens of figures.

Germany & Austria – Krippe

Wooden carvings, often very detailed, are sometimes displayed in churches from Advent to Candlemas.

Spain – Belén

Spanish nativity displays are famously elaborate, often filling whole rooms with landscapes, rivers, lights and moving parts.

Mexico – Nacimientos

Colourful and expressive, sometimes life-sized. They often include local animals like llamas and donkeys.

United Kingdom

Churches commonly place a nativity at the front from early December, while homes tend to have simple wooden or ceramic sets. Many schools still perform a nativity play every year — a treasured tradition for many families.

United States

A mix of traditions, from tiny porcelain sets to large illuminated yard displays.

Nativity scenes today

In modern times, you can find nativity sets made from almost anything:

• Wood
• Ceramics
• Glass
• Felt
• Olive wood from Bethlehem
• Knitted or crocheted figures
• Minimal modern designs
• Humorous or novelty nativities
• Child-friendly soft playsets

Some sets are tiny enough to fit in a pocket; others are nearly life-sized. Some are traditional, others are quirky, and some reflect the cultural diversity of the world today.

Why the nativity still matters

You don’t have to be religious to appreciate the feeling behind a nativity scene.
At its heart, it’s a story about:

• Welcome
• Humility
• Family
• Kindness
• Hope appearing in unexpected places

For others, it represents God's son being born into the world, a proven historical figure who changed the world with his ideas, or the birth of an Ascended Master who taught us many mystical truths about ourselves.

Whatever you believe in the Bible story, follow a different religion or have your own beliefs, the choice is yours, and we all have a right in UK law to practice whatever religion or non-religion we like. I appreciate that and I appreciate the way that a nativity scene can make me stop and think about things more deeply.

So no matter how simple or elaborate the design, nativity scenes invite us to pause for a moment of stillness, to remember gentleness in a busy season, and to hold on to the warmth at the centre of the story behind Christmas.

Thank you for reading

This is our last entry in our Advent calendar this year. I sincerely hope you have enjoyed reading the posts, and all that is left for me to do now is to wish you all...

A Very Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year

With love and light to each and every one of you,

Gail x