Why Is the Nativity Important?

Why Is the Nativity Important?

Performing in the nativity is a rite of passage for children worldwide and has been part of the English evangelical tradition since the medieval period. While the spiritual importance of the nativity is as true today as it was hundreds of years ago, being involved in the nativity has become an integral part of our annual Christmas celebrations, while facilitating social and emotional development in young children.

In this article, we will review why the nativity is still so important to our modern Christmas culture, while touching on some of the benefits nativity performances can offer your students.

5 Reasons Why the Nativity Scene is Important

Getting into the Festive Spirit

Much like decorating the Christmas tree at home or listening to classic Christmas songs in the car, being in the nativity is an important part of your students’ seasonal ritual and builds their excitement for the festive celebrations still to come. From finding out what part they are playing and attending their first rehearsal, to getting into costume and performing in front of their family, the process of staging a nativity gives your students license to feel festive at school and at home, allowing them to make the most of the holiday season.

Participating in a Communal Activity

Christmas is a time for togetherness, and there is no better way for children to foster that communal spirit than to participate in the nativity. Listening for their dialogue cues and being aware of their other classmates on stage teaches your students vital teamwork skills, respecting each other’s roles for the overall success of the performance. Furthermore, witnessing the happiness that their performance brings to their friends and family in the audience makes your students feel at the centre of their Christmas celebrations, providing the festive cheer for that afternoon.

Sharing an Intergenerational Experience

While your students may not have been in a nativity before, their older siblings, parents and even grandparents will all have their own memories of performing and watching each other’s performances. They may have a sense of the importance of the nativity through stories about cobbled together costumes and flubbed lines, or photographs of their parents as children, donning tea towel headwear or tinsel halos. By performing in their own nativity, your students can connect with older generations through this shared experience, forming their own festive memories to look back on in years to come.

Engaging with the Nativity Tradition

The earliest record of a nativity performance is 1223, when Saint Francis of Assisi staged the first nativity scene in the caves outside the Italian town of Greccio. Working with the local townspeople, Saint Francis organised for a donkey, an ox and a baby in a manger of hay to be brought to one of the caves, such that they could “bring to life the memory of that babe born in Bethlehem”.

While using a real donkey in nativities has seen some resurgence in recent years, for the most part, the animals in modern primary school nativities are part of the cast and baby Jesus is a doll swaddled in blankets. Nevertheless, the intentions behind the nativity have changed very little in 800 years. By “bringing to life” the miraculous story of Jesus’ birth, your students can engage with its teachings on an intimate level, experiencing His humble beginnings and echoing the faith of Mary, Joseph and all the visitors to the stable.

Building Confidence for Future Performances

For most children, their first experience of singing and speaking in front of an audience is in their first nativity performance. While this prospect can be daunting for students in their early years, involving every child in the nativity is important to developing their confidence. Whether the student is playing Mary, Joseph or the third tea towel from the left, their role should be celebrated and their bravery recognised in the hope of inspiring their interest in future school musical productions.

Nativities Made Easy with the School Musicals Company

We hope this article has renewed your appreciation of the nativity as an important part of your students’ Christmas celebrations, as well as an opportunity for their personal development. At The School Musicals Company, our talented team of writers has produced numerous nativities for KS1 and KS2 students, reimagining the nativity story with lovable characters and catchy songs while maintaining its themes of faith, acceptance and togetherness.

For more information about our nativity collection, or to get some ideas for your school nativity this December, get in touch with us today or explore the extensive range of musicals and songbooks on our website.