A Abbreviated History of Birthplace Scenes
The birth of one man, Jesus Christ, sparked the international holiday we know as Christmas.
Although there’s no shortage of commercial static and competition, most Christians focus on the true personage of the season, Jesus of Nazareth. One of the ways many Christians express this idea is through the use of nativity scenes. Each nativity scene is designed for one purpose, to educate others about Jesus. There is little variation in whom is placed in a nativity scene, ranging between the baby Jesus and the animals in the barnyard.
What most scenes have in common
- Reading of scripture
- Living scene with live actors
- Barnyard animals
While the scene can be a simple painting or a picture, the most stunning depiction is called a living nativity scene. A living nativity scene is often constructed by churches and includes living people, living animals, and the reading of the scene from the original books of the New Testament. It’s not uncommon for quality churches to take the plunge into the performance of a Christmas play before the nativity scene begins.
St. Francis of Assisi is credited with creating the very first living nativity scene after visiting the birthplace of Jesus. He hoped that a living nativity scene would inspire others to worship Christ. Nativity scene after nativity scene began to put up all around the globe. Other churches and Christian communities quickly replicated similar scenes in their own areas, and the traditional nativity scene soon became a staple religious symbol for the Christmas season.
Anyone’s holiday season would be remiss were they not able to view at least one nativity scene. Lawsuits often are filed to keep a nativity scene off of government property, with the most common argument being to seek a separation between church and state.
But, with all the controversy swirling around nativity scenes, they remain a common staple of the Christmas holiday season in the United States and in other Christian communities all around the world.
For more great ideas about Modern Greetings visit www.ModernGreetings.com because holiday joy begins with invitations.
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