Glencairn Museum News | Number 12, 2023
The Nativity scene, depicting Jesus Christ’s birth in Bethlehem, is an important symbol for many Christians worldwide. Nativity scenes usually combine several different accounts from the Bible detailing Christ’s birth. While most Nativities include both the Magi, or wise men, and the shepherds, the story of the Magi is told only in the Gospel of Matthew, while the story of the shepherds is told only in the Gospel of Luke. Artists sometimes expand the scene with additional imagery, drawing from early Christian texts—such as the ox and donkey from the Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew—or their own creative imaginations. A small selection of the Nativities in this year’s World Nativities exhibition follows below (Figures 1-16), along with several objects featured in this year’s Christmas in the Castle tour (Figures 17–19).
(CEG)