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Nativity scenes give people a visual representation of the birth of Jesus Christ. But some scholars say not everything in those displays comes from the Bible.
Chris Greenough, a professor of social sciences at Edge Hill University in the UK, asserts that some characters in the nativity scene do not appear in the Bible at all.
“Although Christmas is a Christian holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus, the Bible provides scant information about when Mary gave birth to him. The Gospel accounts contain very little detail about Jesus’ birth and childhood—their focus is his later ministry, not his early life,” Professor Greenough noted.
Jesus Wasn’t Born on a “Silent Night”
The Christmas story often paints Bethlehem as a “quiet town,” and several carols mention a “silent night.” But Greenough says the night of Jesus’ birth was probably busy.
“According to the Gospel of Luke, Emperor Augustus issued a decree for a census, so everyone had to return to their hometown for registration,” the scholar explained. He added, “If it was census time and there were no available guest rooms, it’s unlikely that the night of Jesus’ birth was quiet.”
There Was No Little Donkey
In the nativity scene, Mary and Joseph travel through Bethlehem on a donkey. The Bible, however, does not mention a donkey.
“In Luke 2:4, it states that Joseph went to Bethlehem to ‘register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him.’ However, it doesn’t specify how they traveled, and a journey on a donkey during pregnancy would likely have been extremely uncomfortable,” Chris Greenough pointed out.
In Fact, There Were No Animals at All
Nativity plays often show animals like a sheep, an ox, and a donkey. Yet the Bible makes no mention of animals in the account of Christ’s birth, according to the Daily Mail.
Meredith Warren, a lecturer in religious studies at the University of Sheffield in the UK, suggested that animals were added to the Christmas story later on.
In her article for The Conversation, she wrote, “Images of animals behaving peacefully are often found in the Bible. They are meant to symbolize a time of peace.” So it’s no surprise animals appear in the story of Christ’s birth.
The Innkeeper and His Stable
The innkeeper is one of the central characters in the Christmas story, famously telling Mary and Joseph that there is no room at the inn. But neither this character nor a stable appears in the Bible.
“The Gospel of Luke only states that there was no guest room available for them. Therefore, Jesus was born in a stable… and he was laid in a manger—a feeding trough for animals,” Professor Greenough explained.
There’s Also Confusion About the Magi
The Bible mentions wise men, or magi, who were led to Jesus by a star and entered his “house.” But, as Professor Greenough points out, the text does not say there were three wise men.
“We know there were three gifts—gold, frankincense, and myrrh—but the Bible does not specify the number of magi who brought them,” he added.
