Monday 9 December 2013

What Happened To The Traditional Nativity?

Although the memories definitely aren't as clear as they used to be, I will always remember my first Nativity play at school. I got the best part, oh yes, I was a mouse. I know what your thinking, a really important role, I even got to squeek as I scurried about with a tail pinned to the back of my trousers. It was the traditional story about Mary and Joseph and how baby Jesus came to be born. We sang songs like little donkey and it was a time for the parents to come and see there children in action.

Since having my own children, going to watch them perform in their own Nativity plays has been something I have really looked forward too, I come to think of it as a real part of our build up to Christmas. I was a proud mummy last year when Elise was picked to play the part of Mary.



However as happy as I was to see my daughter up there acting her little heart out I can't help but come away feeling a little disappointed every year.

The focus doesn't seem to be on the original story of the giving birth of Jesus anymore, it is more about putting on a big show. Half the songs they sing these days I don't even recognise, they are not the old ones we know and love, most are made up to the tunes of different nursery rhymes.

Gone are the days when every child seemed to get a some what meaningful role to play, last year some of the children in my daughter's school got to play rocks and trees, since when did these objects play a part in the Nativity?? Personally if I was a mum of one of those kids I would have been really upset for them.

This year the primary school that my eldest two daughter's attend aren't even putting on a proper Nativity play let alone classic one, they are just doing some little bits during their school's Christmas church service, we've been given a week and halfs notice to sort out a costume for our children. Freya is again breaking tradition slightly because she wants to be a shepherd and I'm not sure how many female shepherds there were way back when?

What do you think, should Nativity plays move with the times or would it be better if they stick with the convential story?

xxxx

10 comments:

  1. I kind of agree my kids are not at school yet but I have a sister who is and her plays are all about school and taking the mick out the teachers and nothing to do with the message of Christmas and many of the jokes the kids don't understand. I only go every year to not let her down but I'm never impressed with the plays themselves I hope when my two go to school they will get to do proper nativities because I think they are cute!

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  2. Dd's first school was c of e and they did whole school nativity (all 70 kids!), current school also c of e the infants do nativity with reception all cute animals and lines for year 1 and 2. Juniors do a musical instead...

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    1. see my daugher's school is also c ofe e so I think this is half the reason I am so disappointed as you expect more from them as such x

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  3. My little girls pre-school is doing a christmas carols concert, my 5 year old is doing a proper nativity and is a star...my 7 year old is in a 2 hour long play called schools will rock you and has to sing bohemian rhapsody along with some meatloaf and britney numbers.....

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    1. Lots for you to watch this year then!!!! My 3 year old is also doing a little Christmas carol concert. x

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  4. My son is at a CofE school so why would any parent object to a proper nativity? Yet some do. If they don't want children doing these things, a non-faith school might be better. There are three other schools in our area. Grrr....

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  5. My kids school does a nativity play in the infants - but once they go to the juniors it gets a bit strange. This year my son's 'Christmas' performance is Mary Poppins!

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    1. mmm Mary Poppins is not something I would associate with Christmas really x

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