On Monday, Dec. 6, St. Norbert School students put on a live nativity outside of Hardin Presbytarian Church from 6:30 to 7 p.m. The above students are depicting the Angel Gabriel telling the Virgin Mary that she will conceive a son and name him Jesus. (Carissa Sitki/ Calhoun News-Herald)
By Cynthia Haggitt
Nativity scenes are a thoughtful and meaningful way to celebrate Christmas. People of all ages and backgrounds enjoy taking a look at that incredible first Christmas.
St. Norbert School students honored this sacred time of year with a live nativity scene outside of Hardin Presbytarian Church from 6:30 to 7 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 6. The students acted out various scenes from biblical scripture, depicting Jesus Christ’s birth, life, death, and resurrection.
The word nativity means “arisen by birth.” and it is taken from the Latin language. Nativities can be art, models, carvings, or live demonstrations depicting the night of Jesus’ birth. The Nativity scene usually has certain elements and they are: the Christ child in a manger; His mother, Mary; His earthly father, Joseph; shepherds; angels; various barn animals; and sometimes three wise men.
Did you know that Saint Francis of Assisi created the very first nativity scene in 1223 in an effort to promote the true meaning of Christmas and worship of Jesus Christ. His idea caught on, and soon a new Christmas tradition was born. Today, it’s almost impossible for one to go through the Christmas season without seeing a nativity scene in front of a church, in a Christmas play, decorating someone’s yard, or placed in model form on a fireplace mantel.
