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.

I went to one this morning, not a church school, Mary, Joseph, some animals, wise men, angels the lot. Costumes made in class by the children with basic things kept by the school (teatowels for shepherd hats etc)
Some of the songs weren't traditional carols or hymns but great for reception aged children

Love the non-traditional nativity, DD did one once where the main characters were the innkeeper and his wife who got increasingly annoyed at all the people knocking on their door late at night. I do think the non-traditional ones are excellent because that kind of parent is made happy by their DD being Mary which is always a nonspeaking part and the good performers can be given the main character of 'donkey' or 'midwife'. The Alien one is the most boring of the modern plays, it's just some aliens being told a very traditional nativity.

I was a cedar tree in a school Christmas play in about 1970. Other children were spiders. It did feature the baby Jesus though! Wacky nativities aren't that new.

I agree although I don't think it's a new thing. I'm 39 and distinctly remember being half (2 person role) of The River one year.

DC's school seem to do a 4/5 year rotation and I'm dreading it being 'Pirates of the Currybean' again.

Yeah this sounds unlikely. Muslims like Jesus and he's an important guy. He's just not the most important guy.

You think DC have been doing Nativity plays for 2000 years?! 😂

No, it just feels like it.

It’s not boring. It’s a retelling of a traditional religious story. My son’s school did Fools and Horses one year. THAT was boring, pointless and fuck all to do with Christmas

What people find boring is subjective. I agree with pp that traditional nativities are incredibly boring.

Jesus is a prophet in the Muslim faith. Did anyone think to ask them whether they were offended or wanted to withdraw their children from the nativity play, or did the school just do it anyway?

I really find it unlikely that Muslims would be offended by the nativity. Our school isn't a Christian school and has a large number of Muslim pupils - yet they still do a traditional nativity every year with Muslim pupils taking part and Muslim parents coming to watch (proudly like all the other parents). There is never any problem or offence. The Muslims I know (and I know many Muslims) have never been offended in the slightest by any reference to Christianity. I find they are respectful of other religions (more respectful than my atheist friends). Some of the Muslim families send us Christmas cards, even though they don't celebrate themselves. They do it out of respect and community spirit.
I get quite weary when I hear people moaning that we can't even use the word Christmas anymore because it offends Muslims. Simply not true in my experience.

Hah, I cam to say this exact thing. I was a hula dancer in my school nativity play back in 1990! I was also a peacock one year, and Sir Francis Drake another year 😂.

I also remember being a leather jacket wearing angel in a church nativity.

My kids both did traditional ones at school

My son was one of the wise men
My daughter was an innkeeper
Maybe because it's a Cof E school?

90 reception DC in one play 😲 you're brave! My Dd's primary school was 5 form entry but they did one play per class.

I've done 'The Grumpy Innkeeper' too, with nursery children! We used songs from 'A Nursery Nativity' though, they were easier for 3/4 year olds - parents loved the innkeeper getting increasingly annoyed! Plus, all the traditional parts, just from a slightly different viewpoint. 🙂

@UndertheCedartree

Brave...stupid...contractually obliged...all of those!

It generally went well in all honesty, and luckily the mishaps are even cuter when they're little (the wiseman who, when saying his line, forgot what it was - "I bring...a present...<what was it again Miss Rockhopper??>" - to which the wiseman behind him replied "it's gold, you're bringing gold, now get on with it!")

Okay then, 800 years. St Francis of Assisi started it in 1223 - you can blame him.

Ffs not the Muslim issue again. When I was Mary (crying because I didn't want a boyfriend but got over it) my Muslim family were all bemused and amused that I was playing "Maryam" (as Mary is known) and told all our relatives.
There was no offence whatsoever.

Saw a very trad Nativity at Gdcs’ (C of E) school tonight. They sang O Little Town of Bethlehem, Away In A Manger, Do you near what I hear?, Joy to the world, and Silent Night.

I was a blubbering mess with Away In A Manger!

My dad was the local Bobby and had about 5 schools on his patch that he used to visit regularly and then got invited to all 5 nativity's. They all kind of blended in together in his head except one where the teachers let the kids add lib a bit. Mary was on stage with the baby Jesus when Joseph came home from work. The conversation went like this , " Ello Joseph, ow was your day?"
" oh ello Mary pretty good, how was yours and ow has the baby Jesus been?"
" well Joseph, if you really want to know, he's been a right little bleeder!"
The teachers were mortified, the parents except for Mary's laughed and my dad thought it was the best nativity he'd ever seen 😂

Oh, I see what you mean the story still interests people after all that time. Not that school children have been putting on nativity plays for their parents all that time!

I don't particularly mind the quirky nativity. However, there isn't a single child in my dcs infant school who can speak both loudly and clearly, so I spend most of the play wondering what the fuck is going on, 'is that a talking dragon?' ' what's it doing with the pirate?'' it's over, umm, lovely play'