My family has a tradition that has continued from before I was born for about 75 years. Each Christmas Eve whoever has gathered together for the holiday acts out the Nativity also known as the birth of Jesus the Christ. We ask others to join us as well. Costumes are encouraged. As my family has scattered, I pray that they will carry on this tradition.
Here is the script. At home, I have a PDF version so I pieced this together from Bible scripture and memory. Perhaps you do something similar or can start a new tradition this year. (There is usually a baby in the house that is cast in the starring role. In fact, that is how our family announces that a baby is on the way. “We are going to have a baby Jesus this year.”)
If you want to see me act out all the parts in this Laos version, click on the YouTube video at the end of this post. It is thirteen minutes long.
If we were at home, this would then be followed with acting out the Twelve Days of Christmas followed by a talent show. The grand finale is getting to open one approved present before bed. (Kids only)
In the morning on Christmas day all the presents are passed out. Once all presents have been dispersed, we open the gifts one by one starting with the youngest.
“O Come All Ye Faithful”
O come, all ye faithful
Joyful and triumphant
O come ye, o come ye to Bethlehem
Come and behold Him
Born the King of Angels!
O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him
Christ the Lord.
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled, each to his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.
Luke 2: 1,3-5
“O Little Town of Bethlehem”
O little town of Bethlehem
How still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight.
And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
Luke 2:6-7
“Silent Night”
Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child
Holy infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace.
“Away in a Manger”
Away in a manger
No crib for His bed
The little Lord Jesus
Lay down His sweet head
The stars in the sky
Look down where He lay
The little Lord Jesus
Asleep on the hay.
And in that region there were shepherds out in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them. And the angel said to them, “Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign to you: you will find a babe, wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly hosts praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace good will toward men.” Then the angels went away from them into heaven.
Luke 2:8-15
“Hark the Herald Angels Sing”
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the new-born King!
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled.”
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With th’ angelic host proclaim,
“Christ is born in Bethlehem.”
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the new-born King!
“Angels We Have Heard on High”
Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o’er the plains
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains
Gloria, in excelsis Deo
Gloria, in excelsis Deo.
The shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
Luke 2:15,16
“The First Noel”
The First Noel, the Angels did say
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep
On a cold winter’s night that was so deep
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!
Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise came men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and have come to worship him.”
Matthew 2:1-2
“We Three Kings”
Verse 1: All kings
We three kings of Orient are;
bearing gifts we traverse afar,
field and fountain, moor and mountain,
following yonder star.
Everyone:
O star of wonder, star of light,
star with royal beauty bright,
westward leading, still proceeding,
guide us to thy perfect light.
Solo Verse 2: Gold
Born a King on Bethlehem’s plain,
gold I bring to crown him again,
King forever, ceasing never,
over us all to reign.
O star of wonder, star of light,
star with royal beauty bright,
westward leading, still proceeding,
guide us to thy perfect light.
Solo Verse 3: Frankincense
Frankincense to offer have I;
incense owns a Deity nigh;
prayer and praising, voices raising,
worshiping God on high.
O star of wonder, star of light,
star with royal beauty bright,
westward leading, still proceeding,
guide us to thy perfect light.
Solo Verse 4: Myrrh
Myrrh is mine; its bitter perfume
breathes a life of gathering gloom;
sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying,
sealed in the stone-cold tomb.
O star of wonder, star of light,
star with royal beauty bright,
westward leading, still proceeding,
guide us to thy perfect light.
Verse 5: Everyone
Glorious now behold him arise;
King and God and sacrifice:
Alleluia, Alleluia,
sounds through the earth and skies.
O star of wonder, star of light,
star with royal beauty bright,
westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy perfect light.
The star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy; and going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.
Matthew 2:9b-12
“Joy to the World”
Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King!
Let ev’ry heart prepare Him room,
and heav’n and nature sing,
and heav’n and nature sing,
and heav’n, and heav’n and nature sing.
Merry Christmas!!! Peace on Earth. Good will toward men.
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