To wonder how much longer school will do nativity plays?

[GreatestShowUnicorn]

As there is no biblical scripture to show Jesus was born at the time of the winter solstice. Surely it’s just teaching creationism or that the world is flat?

They're not teaching it as literal truth! It's a story, they're doing a show.

There was a talking donkey in DD’s nativity. Pretty sure she’s not going to come home thinking Dr Doolittle is actually a textbook.

As my kids are at a Christian school I will imagine there will always be a nativity play. I went yesterday and it was bloody lovely. Complete with tea towels for head coverings. :)

AssassinatedBeauty
Do schools not teach it as the truth? Schools round me do.

Why are people so disrespectful about Christianity? With the exception of the ignorant/racist/bigoted, everyone is very respectful towards Muslims, Jews, Hindus etc but when it comes to Christianity so many people are so bloody rude and disrespectful. Just because you don't believe doesn't mean you get to belittle someone else's beliefs.

Btw Christianity isn't taught as fact in schools. It's just one of many religions that are taught and they're all treated the same ("some people believe...").

It's called The Nativity Story. It's a story.

It's Cultural, as well as religious.

Treat it like a Punch and Judy show.

What Woooman said.

3 of the last 4 I've suffered through have been about a camel, a snowman, and a robin.

They've all had elements of the nativity story but none have focused on it in the traditional sense.

My kids have both believed it to be true, but I just say that a lot of people, including me and Daddy, think it's just a story, and they can make their own minds up.

We tend to do ‘bought’ play scripts like ‘Whoops a Daisy angel’ which are more Christmas plays than nativities anyway.

"Do schools not teach it as the truth? Schools round me do."

Then they must be Faith Schools.

Schools that aren't run by churches don't teach it as fact. It's taught as "this is what Christians believe".

Were not religious at all, but kids go to a Christian school and I loved watching my first nativity as a proud parent!

I work in a CofE school and it is absolutely taught as ‘truth’. We may do quirky nativity stories but all of them have to incorporate the birth of Jesus.

Whatever your feelings about it are, it is kind of central to Christmas...

Completely proving my point, Bartholin. Do you also tell Muslims or Hindus that they believe in made up nonsense or do you respect the fact that they believe in something different to you and leave them to it.

Given that no one has thought Jesus was born in midwinter for far longer than the tradition of school nativity plays, I doubt they're going to end anytime soon, any more than Foundation Stage kangaroos and parrots (?) will stop attending the birth of Jesus, or Mary dropping the Baby Jesus to have her hands free to get the giftwrapped showboxes from the Magi.

Santa Claus, Mrs Claus, two reindeer, a Finnish mythic goat and some elves were at the nativity in ours this year.

My Dd is only 3, but her preschool do a show where the children dress up in nativity character costumes, but sing non-religious Christmas songs and dance a bit.
It’s just a story - no different to them doing a play about Rudolph the red nosed reindeer or Santa
And I say that as someone who celebrates a very pagan Christmas!

Will also add that alongside our traditional nativity characters, there was a teddy bear, a reindeer, a wolf and Elsa & Anna made an appearance at one point

I tell them too Wooman.

Why are people so disrespectful about Christianity? With the exception of the ignorant/racist/bigoted, everyone is very respectful towards Muslims, Jews, Hindus etc but when it comes to Christianity so many people are so bloody rude and disrespectful.

I suspect if there had been a history of Jews, Hindus or Muslims forcing their beliefs on all and sundry throughout the past 1,000+ years (with some horrific consequences) they would be treated a little differently. For better for worse, the UK has trumpeted the fact it's a Christian country (especially if it meant nicking other countries stuff in the process). So maybe this is a form of payback ?

(Ducks)

Nativities are lovely, the kids love them and so so most parents, grandparents, etc. As someone else said, the story is pretty much central to the whole Xmas deal. The children participating in the one I attended last week were clearly having a fantatic time and performed and behaved impeccably.

I went to primary school in the 60s and also was sent to chapel and Sunday school every week. I believed the story until I was about 12, when I was old enough to rationalise it. Most kids will do the same, especially if their parents engage in age-appropriate conversations with them.

My kids never did the Nativity, just Christmas plays. They did carol concerts sometimes but that was voluntary as part of the school choir.

Woooman, I totally agree.

Christianity bashing is OK.

But question the Muslim Faith, its attitude to Women and the Body covering dressing, the Jewish practice of chopping a bit of your new born son off and you are a Bigot.

OP, you’re showing a lack of understanding about Christian doctrine.
We don’t claim that Christ was born on Dec 25th. None of us know his actual birthday.
Our church chose Dec 25th as his “official birthday” (rather like the Queen), because Jesus is the Light of the World.
After the darkness of the Solstice on Dec 21st, the daylight begins to increase again. The 25th is far enough away to not be confused with pagan solstice celebrations, and also far enough to have a (just) noticeable increase in daylight length.
Britain is still a Christian country with an established state church (at least in England), and it’s perfectly logical that we want our children to know God loves them, and to have fun re-enacting the sacred wonder of the Nativity, when the Word was made flesh and dwelt amongst us.
Hope that helps!