How is a Nativity Scene set up?

Setting up a Nativity scene is a Christmas tradition loved by many, and is an opportunity to spend time with family and create many joyful memories. Nativity scenes depict the birth of Jesus that Christians celebrate at Christmas time, and hold important religious meaning for many people's faith. For others, the Nativity scene is a wonderful representation of tradition and they appreciate its message of hope and new life, even if they don't hold religious views themselves. A Nativity Scene typically includes baby Jesus, his parents Mary and Joseph, a shepherd, an angel, three wise men, and several animals. At French Knot, we have compiled our top tips for properly placing the Nativity figures, to reflect the values and history of the nativity story.

Start with the Central Figures

The central figure of the Nativity scene should be baby Jesus in the manger, surrounded by His parents Mary and Joseph. As the focus of the Christian Christmas celebration, Jesus should be placed centrally, facing forwards, towards the viewer. Mary and Joseph should sit either side of Jesus, and Mary is often placed slightly closer to represent her role as the mother of Jesus. In many Christian denominations, such as in Catholicism, it is traditional to have Mary placed on the left side of Jesus, so she is sitting at His right hand. This is to represent her as sitting at the right hand of her King, a position that symbolises honour and power. Make sure both parents are looking towards the baby Jesus.

Positioning the Shepherd and Angel

Starting with the shepherd and the angel, the other figures in the Nativity set should be placed in a circle surrounding Jesus and His parents. The shepherd can be placed to the left or right of the scene, and should be looking towards Jesus in the manger. If your Nativity set comes with a sheep, place the sheep near the Shepherd. The angel is often positioned behind Jesus in the Nativity scene, to represent the heavenly presence at Jesus' birth and the appearance of angels to Mary and Joseph in the Nativity story. Some people choose to put the angel behind or next to the shepherd, to reflect the part of the Nativity story in which angels appear to the shepherds in the field.

Arranging the Wise Men

Also referred to as kings or Magi, the wise men appear later in the biblical Christmas story, and usually appear in Nativity scenes as a group of three. Described as bringing gifts for the baby Jesus, and as being "visitors from the East", the wise men should be placed so that they are looking towards Jesus in the centre. Nativity scenes may include a star, to represent the star the wise men were guided by to find Jesus. The wise men are often placed slightly further away to represent how they were the last to arrive in Nativity story. Some people choose to place them on the right of the scene to depict them as having arrived from the East. You can place the wise men together in a group of three, or arrange them so that one or two are closer and the others are standing behind or across from them.

Where to Put the Animals

Nativity scenes often include a variety of animals that are traditionally included in depictions of Jesus' birth. The Nativity scene is set in a stable, so it is common to have a cow, ox, or donkey in the setting. These animals should be placed around the edge of the scene, to not draw attention from baby Jesus and those who came to visit Him. If your Nativity set includes a sheep, place this with the shepherd. The animals may look towards the baby in the manger, or they may simply sit nearby.

Things to Keep in Mind

There are a couple general considerations to make when setting up your Nativity scene. The first is to make sure none of the figures are sitting in front of baby Jesus in the manger, as this blocks the view of the central part of the Nativity story. Make sure the figures are all gazing towards Jesus, to represent their gathering for the purpose of meeting the Christ. Don't worry if the figures can't all fit within the stable, as it serves as a backdrop to evoke the setting of the Nativity, and doesn't necessarily need to be completely jammed full. If possible, make sure that Jesus and His parents are placed inside the stable, as is traditional. Feel free to include other parts of the Nativity story in your scene. You may choose to start by placing the wise men further away, and move them slightly closer each day, to depict their journey to reach Jesus in Bethlehem. Some people choose to add each figure into the scene on specific days, such as placing Mary and Joseph on Christmas eve, followed by Jesus on Christmas day, then the shepherd, and the wise men arriving last.

A Nativity scene is a beautiful Christmas tradition that holds value for many people, and setting it up is a process filled with joy that allows you spend time with family and create happy memories. Properly positioning the figures in your Nativity set allows you to reflect the different values we celebrate at Christmas, and is a way to express your beliefs and the things you cherish most. At French Knot, we have a range of gorgeous Nativity Sets with figures, so that you can celebrate Christmas in a way that is meaningful to you.