What are the origins of the various ingredients of the now traditional nativity scene? The traditional nativity scene, shown in thousands of pictures, models and p1ays, rests upon no single authority. It is a synthesis of different traditions brought together over the centuries. S Francis of Assisi in 1224 AD was the first to introduce a crib into church. The sources of the various elements are:

• Matthew provides the star and the wise men and also Herod’s massacre of the innocents, and the flight to Egypt.
• Luke provides the stable, the manger, angels and the shepherds.
• Various later speculations provide the ox, the ass, the wise men shown as three kings and Joseph shown as a white bearded old man.

The star is an emblem which appears over and over again in Jewish thought of the period. It dated back to the prophecy of Balaam in the Book of Numbers: “A star shall come forth out of Jacob”. In the Dead Sea Scrolls, one of the expected messiahs is called “the star” and he is to be the interpreter of the Law. The messianic Simon bar Kosiba, who led the Jews in revolt against the Romans in 132-135 AD, was nicknamed “Son of the Star” and the coins he minted showed the Jewish temple with a star.