Nativity Scene

It is said that Jesus was born in a stable. It was possibly on a donkey that Jesus’ mother went to Bethlehem, town of Jesus’ birth. In the vicinity at the time when Jesus was born were shepherds watching over their flock; they went to visit the newborn (according to the Gospel of Luke). So, an animal presence at The Nativity is implied; but it is not known if any animals were present at Jesus’ birth. 

An early image of The Nativity, which is a carving on the lid of a sarcophagus, is of late fourth/early fifth century date. It shows Jesus, an ox, an ass, and two birds (no Mary and Joseph). Pope Benedict XVI, in his book (2012) Jesus of Nazareth: The Infancy Narratives says that there is no mention in the Gospels of animals at the birth of Jesus. He opines that, that ox and donkey are referred to in other parts of the Bible, is probably why Christians included these animals in scenes of The Nativity. Maybe the birds were present for suggesting open sky, or for purposes of decoration. Later representations of The Nativity often include ox, donkey, and sometimes lambs and/or sheep. Sheep and lambs, as well as referencing the shepherds at Nativity time are also, it can be presumed, referencing Jesus’ Lamb of God attribution.

What is clear is that, over the time since the late fourth/early fifth century, in representations of The Nativity there has been an accrual of animals, both of type and in number. What seems to being represented is an impulse in humans of wanting animals to be shown as part of an important and fundamental event of life on earth. In showing animals present in portrayals of such a key occasion as The Nativity, humans are surely indicating their recognition and acceptance that animals are their fellows, having equal rights as theirs - both to be at The Nativity and in life.

Two examples of Advent calendars depicting The Nativity are below. The first shows - along with humans - a cow, two donkeys, a dove, an owl, two lambs, two rabbits, a deer fawn, two mice, a squirrel. The second (designed by Kong-Yew Wong) provides items to be built, comprising - along with humans, an angel, stable, crib, palm trees - a cow, a donkey, a dove on a hay bale, a sheep, a lamb, a goat, a camel, a cat, a dog, a chicken with an egg tray.

Nativity scenes with animals serve to emphasise that we should see and treat animals as of same value and importance as us.