Why don't they do classic nativities any more?

[SnuggleBuggleBoo]

Why do they feel the need to be 'clever', having it told from the point of view of aliens or whatever, with 'original' songs? What's wrong with just the plain old traditional story and well known carols? I just think it's a shame.

Traditional nativity at ours too. Same costumes each year.

I can remember my one and only part in a school Christmas play.
It was around 1974 and I was a washing machine!

@Bicyclethief it was hilarious. My friend is such a pro and just sprinted after the donkey and brought him back to the ‘fold’ smiling affectionately while I was killing myself laughing at Mary’s disgusted face as she dangled the baby by it’s ankle before lobbing into the manger.
I will be going to the actual performance next week - I’d pay to see it 🤣🤣🤣

Our DD's did a traditional one last week.

Our primaries in the Highlands do traditional ones. Every child also gets an advent calendar with a wee booklet of the nativity story and worldwide Christmas traditions.

Wow, I'm not going to lie - I'm surprised a Catholic school isn't all over performing a nativity!!

I went to a Catholic primary and am not Catholic myself, but I thoroughly enjoyed joining in with the 'religious' stuff - maybe it was different in the 80s...

That reminds me of the time small DD (now in her twenties) complained that the school nativity was about Jesus again!

Or they want to be inclusive of everyone including those that do not celebrate Christmas.

Because few people are Christians?

I did postman Pat for one of mine 30 ish years ago.

Who is they? Is this your child’s school? You’ll have to ask them. This is like a Mail headline or alternatively you are a conspiracy theorist , they gets used a lot!

The nativity is an historical event that Christmas celebrates, whether you are Christian or not.

If that's genuinely the case and not just rumour, that sounds odd and unnecessary. My school cohort was over 50% Muslim and we still did a nativity as part of our Christmas performance. Our Muslim parents came along happily, and one (along with one of my Muslim TAs) explained to me that in Islam Jesus exists and is a prophet, so they have no problems joining in a celebration of his birth..

So compelled Christianity then, regardless of whether you are actually a Christian or not.

And folk wonder why it's dying on it's arse.

My 5 year olds prep school just did a lovely one. I cried

It's hardly a historical event. There are no contemporaneous records, only two of the Gospels refer to it and they differ in a number of details.

The calypso carol (See him lying on a bed of straw) is absolutely lovely - such a jolly, catchy tune. There’s a lovely version sung by children, on YouTube.
I’m largely traditionalist when it comes to carols never heard this one until dds were at primary, but I love this one.

They do normal nativities at our school. It's not even a C of E school.

We never did a nativity and I left primary school in 1993. I remember doing a couple of pantomime type plays but nothing religious which is strange as the vicar came every Tuesday to do assembly.

Multiculturalism and the fact society is less religious than it was in the past. When I went to school there was an assembly ever day with a prayer and all Navity plays were traditional

An historical event?

Errrrmmmm.......

There's a hilarious one, Tinsel and Tea Towels about a school putting on the nativity and the OFSTED inspectors turn up. The children love playing their teachers and being in the 'staffroom', the 'rehearsals' are a riot and there's so many parts. Have done this many times and defy anyone not to love it!

Because variety is the spice of life?

I like to see all types of plays.

Our school does a traditional one each year. It's magic.

Not sure this is a new thing, was definitely happening 35 years ago when I was at Primary. We did a traditional nativity at nursery.

My DC also did a traditional nativity in nursery and reception. Then their class did a play at some point over the year but not at Christmas. The school did do a nativity at a local church but the school was too big for everyone to be in it so it was just drama group, choir and orchestra did it. My DD was in choir so I got to see it. It tended to have a mix of new songs and traditional and was really lovely.