A Traditional Nativity Scene

While most modern nativity scenes, whether live performances or tabletop sets, display all the characters at one time, this is not how nativities began. Traditional nativity scenes followed the teachings of the gospels of Matthew and Luke with characters making appearances in this order.

• The scene starts with Mary and Joseph along with two animals, an ox and a donkey.
• On December 24, baby Jesus is laid in the manger.
• Shepherds are added the following day.
• In early January, wise men are placed at the nativity. As is written in the Bible, the wise men arrived much later and would not be present with the shepherds.
• In some countries even today, nativity scenes are left up until early February.