I do not like nativity plays

Me too. I think children are not ready yet for that at the age of 7-8 old. What the point pushing them so hard to take part in entertaining parents? We are not religious either. May be short rhymes and Santa would be work better. Our child hyperactive and autistic. Was not able to sit or following instructions. Its more hard for parents in the evening with persuading them to repeat or learn. Its more for school or religion itself to be proud of Nativity or other goals as charity. Because we dont think that all children would enjoy it. We dont like any wine or sweets on parents gatherings either. So, yes, this year we quit Nativity as I had not power to run after my child. Until we had rest and peace - we let other parents to be proud of their children.

The innkeepers wife is there to add an extra speaking character. Every child needs a role:

"Now, my Wise Men here, please! Billy, Peter and George. And George, Wise Men never do that... Now my Kings, please. Of course, Mrs Binton, we know that by tradition the Wise Men and the Kings are one and the same, but we did want everyone in our Nursery School Nativity Play to have a chance, so we have taken a few liberties, and I don't think any one will mind, Now Kings: Sidney, Neville, Cliff and Nikolas Anoniodes. Four Kings, I'm afraid. We happen to have four lovely crowns, so it seemed a pity not to use them."

They’re shit tbh. I’d much rather they were learning in a classroom rather than having weeks of rehearsals.
There is far more than classroom learning, by taking part in a Nativity, or any other type pf performance, teaches many things not found in text books, it also lets parents see their off spring as an semi-independent person, working with other children and managing without their parents. It can be a shock and a sign of the apron strings being loosened.

My DD was the Midwife one year. Which was the lead character.

This year ours was some weird mashup of Bethlehem and the Great British Bake Off. I wasn't too sure what was going on, but the songs were quite catchy and it was lovely seeing the children throwing themselves into it. I wouldn't call myself an enthusiast, but you're not going for you, are you? You're going to support your child/ grandchild and see their proud, smiling face that you're there to watch their big moment. Meant a lot to me this year because dd is autistic and has a lot of anxiety which has prevented her from wanting to be in the limelight. She had her first speaking part as a narrator and spoke beautifully - so clear and loud - no sign of nerves whatsoever. I'd sit through a thousand nativities to see that smile on her face from her achievement.

Of course I love I good nativity play, it’s a great way to get kids to understand what Christmas is all about and learn the Christmas story. It’s a fantastic tradition in early years/primary education

Tbh I can’t believe your post has been written in a non-ironic way..

I didn’t sit there and do nothing.

i spoke to the head and he now doesn’t do them!

This post is hilarious. What an absolute failure in the parenting department.

Children that age don’t constantly need to be in a classroom learning, it’s ok for them to do different activities.

As someone who should protect her child it’s very odd behaviour you’d sit there and watch him be uncomfortable.

Ooh, haven't seen this version! Where's it on? Id love to get this added to my Navity Notebook.

I'll be the envy of my fellow Nativitists the Nativity Enthusiast Club!!!

WTF?? Grinch of the day award!

I'm just trying to get this right in my head...you went to your child's first nativity (so I'm guessing she's 4/5?) and were disappointed that it was not great theatre? What story exactly were you expecting, considering that the exact same story (which, as it's around 2000 years old is lacking in 2025 political nuance) has been done by every Reception class for generations?

No-one is heading to a Nativity expecting to be riveted or left deep in thought about the outstanding talking points around feminism, or the deep dedication of the actors. We enjoy them because for most of the children, despite the rehearsal process being a little boring, they are proud of what they've achieved and we are proud of them for having the confidence to get up on stage and do it. It's about parenting, not about a great cultural experience. And for those that do get upset, we want to be there to comfort them and remind them that they tried something hard, even if it didn't work out. We're still proud that they challenged themselves.

Youngest Gdc’s Nativity the other night was delightful. 👏👏 to the teachers for getting them all involved, all dressed up as something, and teaching them several traditional carols/songs, with actions. All the children (Y1 and 2) evidently enjoyed it very much.

Enjoyed your 15 minutes of mn fame? Its Christmas, it's tradition, kids do remember it fondly generally(I was a star one year. I had such stage fright i refused to go on and wee'ed myself (I was 4) but I look back and laugh now), it's not going to be RSC written by Tom Stoppard standard. If you don't like it, don't go. But dont expect everyone else to agree with your weird ideas.

Ah, you have a daughter....

*actual footage of OP when her kid is picked to play Mary next year.

Not all learning takes place in the classroom.

I bet you're fun at parties

As a pp said, you sound like a barrel of laughs. Lighten up & try to enjoy your little girls childhood! There's plenty of time for the fight against the patriarchy and gender stereotypes when she's older. Why do some people have to turn everything into a fight 🙄

It takes time and effort for schools to put on a nativity. Teachers probably don’t enjoy it and would rather do an activity where they are not under the spotlight. But it’s a cute tradition and a memory for you and your child. If you really don’t want to go send someone else to be there for your child and go to work instead. If not fake a smile and tell your child you were so proud of them and thank the teachers for their time and effort.

Was the Innkeeper’s wife running a knocking shop upstairs?

That would be a bit of a departure from the script.

I loved them! It used to make me tear up seeing all those innocent little faces beaming at their parents. My DD’s school must have had someone very funny writing them, there were always plenty of jokes added in that got laughs from the audience.

You need to know about it so when you hear comedians talking about how wise women would have shown up with nappies and cream, and stopped the little drummer boy making a racket, you can laugh at the jokes more.

My husband asked about taking time off for our older child's nativity this year.

I had to explain to him that there wasn't one. There's an age limit for how long you can stick kids in a sheep costume, and at 8 they'd reached the ceiling on it.

I think he'd thought that this was something they'd do all through primary school and we'd still be rocking up to support our son as Shepherd 3 the year before he leaves for secondary.

Sadly not.

I had to attend the same nativity every year for 11 years when my dc were at school!
Every year I'd quietly mian to friends about having to go, every year I'd start crying as soon as the P1s started singing (and every year I forgot to bring tissues!)
By the time mine were on stage I was wearing an idiotic grin (still crying) and clapping like a mad woman. And by the time they all sang "Christmas isn't Christmas till you feel it in your heart," in their sweet little earnest voices, I was a blubbering wreck, and felt like the world was actually a good place for about an hour afterwards, and couldn't remember why I was so reluctant to go.

I think youre a bit humbug, OP!

I do agree with this - of course in 0BCE, the women would likely have got stuck with the cleaning. Sure. But I don’t see why this needs to be - presumably jokingly??- included in a school nativity play? Couldn’t the innkeeper couple both stand there and say “no room”, remember about the stable, whatever? It does annoy me when school plays or tv shows or adverts or whatever just bring in the tropes of henpecked idiot husbands, cleaning / handbag obsessed wives etc, for no reason whatsoever.

I do love the nativity plays though. They’re all concentrating so hard. And the post above on what it takes to get to that stage is spot on. Also, I really like that this is a very very old tradition - it’s nice. I’m completely atheist, but I like this bit of heritage remaining in the guise of school nativity plays.