Christmas Nativity

Every year you probably celebrate Christmas on the 25th of December. Someone may have told you that this is the day of Jesus' birth. But nobody actually knows when he was born! The Bible does not give us a date for the birth of Jesus. So early Christians took the date of important ancient festivals and placed Christmas around the same time.Before Christianity, the Romans had a winter festival called Saturnalia, which took place for one week in mid-December.

From New York Times bestselling author Donna VanLiere, Looking for Christmas is a thoughtful and heartfelt reflection on the origin and meaning of Christmas. As you explore the people and places found in the biblical Nativity account, you will uncover the powerful ways this story can fill your life with celebration and purpose.

Michael Stuyvesant was dying. A wealthy, courteous, and controlled man, all he wanted was to get to Denver to visit his children for one last Christmas. But sometimes even money, good manners, and a compulsive desire for order are not enough. God, the weather, a gigantic shopping-mall Santa Claus, and a pregnant girl who called herself Cheyenne - "like the city. And a river, too. And a mountain and an Indian tribe. I looked it up" - had other plans for him.

Step back in time and experience the story of the first Christmas like never before. Journey with Mary and Joseph down the long, dusty road to Bethlehem, feel the chill of the night air, and hear the sounds of a town with no room to spare. Find warmth and wonder in a humble stable, surrounded by the sweet, earthy smell of hay and the gentle sounds of sleepy animals. In "The First Christmas: A Stable, a Star, and a Savior," the nativity story comes alive with vivid, sensory detail.

A child was born two thousand years ago in a little village called Bethlehem. His birth fulfilled over 300 Old Testament scripture verses prophesying this event. Hundreds of people, royal ambassadors, kings, angels, shepherd priests, and countless others were in attendance to herald this event. Over the decades, the details have become obscured. What we celebrate in our churches at Christmas is not close to the actual details that took place. My favorite example is the innkeeper role in the annual play. What was his name? It doesn't matter; he did not exist. He is just a made up character.

From Christmas music to gifts and food, as well as a look back through the country's rich and troubled history through the perspective of the festive season, this beautiful and powerful book introduces listeners to Ukraine's unique Christmas traditions. In a country where East and West meet, this is a fascinating and unmissable guide to capturing the spirit of one of the most important times of year and a powerful reminder of the strength of holding on to your culture and beliefs, even as others try to take everything from you.

Grandpa's nativity scene is from the view point of a five-year-old as she describes what her family does on Christmas Eve. A nativity scene that is carved out of wood by Grandpa is the main focus. The family can change the figures to what they think the nativity scene should look like. She takes the listener through some of the chaos around the nativity scene on the piano as she waits for her turn. She lets you know how much Grandpa loves her when a mistake, to everyone else's mind, is noticed.

Do you ever feel like you are too small or too ordinary? That's how Itsy and Bitsy feel. When these two charming little mice hear that a king is coming to Bethlehem, they run to find him. But they can't find the king, and other animals discourage them. "Don't even try," they say. "The king doesn't care about little ones like us." Itsy and Bitsy are just about to give up when something amazing happens.

Rediscover the Christmas story. These tales look at the real Christmas story by those who saw it. Four short stories look at the story of the birth of baby Jesus as seen by the donkey in the stable, the shepherds on a hillside, the star gazing down on the little town of Bethlehem, and the baby's mother, Mary. Based loosely on the Bible story about the arrival of the baby Jesus, these tales take a refreshing look at the nativity story at the heart of Christmas.

Jesus Calling: The Story of Christmas uniquely teaches the Christmas story to your children by starting at creation and sharing that Jesus has always been present and that God has always had a plan for Christmas.

It is opening night of Miss Patel's Nativity play. The children have been rehearsing all December, and the audience are taking their seats for this year's hilarious school performance. Mary is getting her costume on, the Star is putting on his face paint, and everyone is very excited. Wait. Who brought that live donkey into the school? Why are both ends of the cow arguing? The Star is picking his nose! Nothing else could possibly go wrong...could it?

Bethlehem is normally a quiet little town on the edge of the desert. But tonight, as dusk falls, there is a sense of something special in the air. An inn packed with revellers, shepherds sprawled on the grass, animals in their stables: everything will be changed when a bright star bearing news arrives in the sky. Carol Ann Duffy's evocative poem will transport you to Bethlehem, capturing the sights, the sounds and the atmosphere of this ancient and magical place.

The year is 1960, and, as it is every year, the Christmas pageant at St. John's Episcopal Church is a very big deal. Doug is a shepherd this year, which is better than being a "Three King", because, for one thing, you get to carry a stick.

All year long Lily and Liam look forward to Christmas on their grandparents' farm. It's always the perfect trip -- walking to the lilac library, trimming the tree, giving gifts. But this year, thanks to a white cow alone in the meadow, things will be different. This Christmas, Lily and Liam will find out the meaning of a true gift.

In this faithful retelling of the Christmas story, children will be amazed with Mary as she is visited by the angel, share in the joy of the shepherds on the hillside, and join the adventure of the wise men as they follow a distant star to visit the special baby Jesus who will one day be king.