Every December, millions of children across the UK take part in their school nativity play.
The nativity, also known as the Christmas pageant, claims to tell the story of the birth of Jesus Christ.
But if your child has been cast as the inn keeper or the little donkey, there’s bad news.
Professor Chris Greenough, a Professor of Social Sciences at Edge Hill University, says that these Christmas story characters actually don’t appear in the Bible.
‘Some of best-known parts of the Christmas story aren’t in the Bible at all,’ he wrote in an article for The Conversation.
‘Although Christmas is a Christian festival celebrating the birth of Jesus, the Bible offers scant information on when Mary gave birth.
‘In fact, there’s very little about Jesus’ birth and infancy in the gospel accounts as a whole – his early life only became of interest later because of his ministry.
‘What the Bible does tell us is that there were few people at Jesus’ birth: only his parents, shepherds who attended later, followed by a visit from the magi (the wise men).’
Professor Chris Greenough, a Professor of Social Sciences at Edge Hill University, says that five Christmas story elements actually don’t appear in the Bible – including any animals
The Christmas story paints Bethlehem as a ‘quiet town’, with several festive hymns and carols mentioning a ‘silent night’. But according to Professor Greenough, Bethlehem would likely have been ‘bustling’ on the night of Jesus’ birth. Pictured: The census at Bethlehem, by Pieter Bruegel the Elder
1. Jesus was not born on a ‘silent night’
The Christmas story paints Bethlehem as a ‘quiet town’, with several festive hymns and carols mentioning a ‘silent night’.
But according to Professor Greenough, Bethlehem would likely have been ‘bustling’ on the night of Jesus’ birth.
‘According to the gospel of Luke, Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should take place, and each person would need to go to their own town to register,’ he explained.
‘If it was census time, and there were no guest rooms available, it’s unlikely the night of Jesus’ birth was silent.
‘The traditional silent, holy night of Christmas Eve in carols and films would more likely have been a bustling, busy night in Bethlehem.’
2. There was no ‘little donkey’
In the nativity story, Mary and Joseph are often depicted traveling to Bethlehem on a donkey.
However, the Bible does not mention a donkey at all.
In the Nativity story, Mary and Joseph are often depicted traveling to Bethlehem on a donkey. However, the Bible does not mention a donkey at all
‘Luke 2:4 says that Joseph went from Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem to register with Mary,’ Profesor Greenough said.
‘The account does not tell us how they travelled – and riding a donkey while heavily pregnant would likely have been deeply uncomfortable.’
3. In fact, there were no animals at all
The nativity features a range of animals, including sheep, an ox, and an ass.
However, the Bible does not mention any animals in the Christmas story.
Meredith Warren, a lecturer in Biblical and Religious Studies at the University of Sheffield, suggests that the animals may have been later placed into the Christmas story as a symbol of peace.
Writing for The Conversation, she said: ‘Images of animals behaving peacefully is a frequent image in the Bible.
‘They are meant to symbolise a time of peace, so it’s no wonder our idea of the birth of the Prince of Peace includes animals.
The inn keeper is one of the pivotal characters in the school nativity play, tasked with delivering the classic line of ‘there’s no room in the inn’ to Mary and Joseph. However, this character does not appear in the Bible – and neither does the stable
The Bible mentions the wise men – or ‘magi’ – who were guided by the star and entered a ‘house’. However, it does not specifically mention that there were three wise men, according to Professor Greenough
‘Surprisingly, we don’t get too many dragons, leopards, or lions included in Christmas nativity sets. But seeing as the ox and the donkey are just as unbiblical, why not?’
4. The inn keeper and his stable
The inn keeper is one of the pivotal characters in the school nativity play, tasked with delivering the classic line of ‘there’s no room in the inn’ to Mary and Joseph.
However, this character does not appear in the Bible – and neither does the stable.
‘Luke’s gospel says only that ‘there was no guest room available for them’,’ Professor Greenough said.
‘A stable is assumed to be Jesus’ birth place because of the lack of guest rooms and because Jesus was laid in a manger, a feeding trough for animals.’
5. Three wise men
The Bible mentions the wise men – or ‘magi’ – who were guided to Jesus by the star and entered a ‘house’.
However, it does not specifically mention that there were three wise men, according to Professor Greenough.
‘We know there were three gifts – gold, frankincense and myrrh – but the Bible doesn’t give the number of magi who presented them,’ he added.