December 4, 201312 yr I posted this on my FB page yesterday and was surprised that not many had heard of this so let me ask my fellow BGPers: I was taught that when you put out a nativity scene as part of your holiday décor, the baby Jesus is not supposed to be put in the manger until midnight Christmas morning. As I drive around looking at everyone's decorations, more often than not, baby Jesus is already in the manger and it drives me crazy!!!! Also, the Maji are not supposed to arrive until the twelfth day of His birth so they shouldn't be part of the décor until then either. Actually, you are supposed to have them somewhat off in the distance and move them closer each day until they finally arrive on the twelfth day. Finally, when they arrive, you are supposed to dress baby Jesus in purple to represent royalty. Has anyone else heard of any of this or am I completely nuts? (Don't answer that last part) I am pretty sure you aren't nuts and these are Roman Catholic traditions.
December 5, 201312 yr I am pretty sure you aren't nuts and these are Roman Catholic traditions. We're as Catholic as can be, and I've never heard the idea of moving the three wise men over a number of days. Although the first crèche was created by St. Francis of Assisi, they are not sacramentals, so I don't believe there are any specific "rules" about them. In our house, the nativity scene is meant to depict the entire story of Christ's birth, so all the figures are present, all the time.
December 5, 201312 yr Hmmmmm. I hadn't thought of that. Most assume he was born some time in the Spring so I guess I will now have to put up my nativity scene during Easter. LOLFall, they think late Sept.
December 5, 201312 yr We're as Catholic as can be, and I've never heard the idea of moving the three wise men over a number of days. Although the first crèche was created by St. Francis of Assisi, they are not sacramentals, so I don't believe there are any specific "rules" about them. In our house, the nativity scene is meant to depict the entire story of Christ's birth, so all the figures are present, all the time. Scratch the catholic theory
December 13, 201312 yr I received for my first Christmas, a Nativity Scene made in France and purchased by a Priest who was a friend of my Father, at the Old St. Johns Orphanage. Every year that I can remember, we placed the Baby Jesus in His Crib on Christmas morning and sang Happy Birthday to him. When I got married, I took my present with me and "The Boss" and I continued the tradition. When we had our Daughter she did the placing of the Baby Jesus in the crib and sang Him Happy Birthday and when she got married and moved with her husband, I gave her the Nativity Scene, so she could continue the tradition and hopefully one day pass the Nativity Scene on to one of her Children! That present will be seeing it's 64th Christmas and I am praying that it's sees over a Hundred, as that would mean my Daughter has continued the Tradition with her Children and has passed the present to one of her own, to continue the Tradition that was started many, many years ago. Indeed nothing would make me happier than that to happen!
December 13, 201312 yr Scratch the catholic theory Maybe it is more OCD Catholicism rather than more traditional Catholicism.
December 19, 201312 yr I posted this on my FB page yesterday and was surprised that not many had heard of this so let me ask my fellow BGPers: I was taught that when you put out a nativity scene as part of your holiday décor, the baby Jesus is not supposed to be put in the manger until midnight Christmas morning. As I drive around looking at everyone's decorations, more often than not, baby Jesus is already in the manger and it drives me crazy!!!! Also, the Maji are not supposed to arrive until the twelfth day of His birth so they shouldn't be part of the décor until then either. Actually, you are supposed to have them somewhat off in the distance and move them closer each day until they finally arrive on the twelfth day. Finally, when they arrive, you are supposed to dress baby Jesus in purple to represent royalty. Has anyone else heard of any of this or am I completely nuts? (Don't answer that last part) You are correct. We do not have a display outside, but have a couple nativity sets in the house as part of our decorations and we never put the baby jesus in the manger until christmas eve. Now because I'm lazy we do put the Maji out when we put the set out....guess I shouldn't do that.
December 21, 201312 yr Wouldn't it be more true to the story not to have Mary and Joseph in the manger until Christmas Eve?
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