The Nativity Scene in the porch of St Nicolas Church, Abingdon, is back again this year.
The scene shows the birth of Jesus as told in St Luke’s Gospel where an angel told shepherds of the birth of a baby, who would be a Saviour. The shepherds visited Jesus and found him lying in a manger – a cattle feeding trough. This account is combined with the account from St Matthew’s Gospel which tells of wise men who follow a star to the place where Jesus lives.
Saint Francis of Assisi is credited with creating the first nativity scene in 1223 at Greccio, central Italy. His scene combined the two accounts and added an Ox and Ass. Such scenes then became very popular, and are still very popular to this day, particularly around Christmas.
St Nicolas is another character who is celebrated at Christmas, although he is better known as Santa Claus.
It is St Nicholas’ Day today (6 December).
Red and white Santa is Coca Cola…
I pass this on my way home in the evenings. It always gives me a moment of calm.
…God bless Coca Cola!
Yep, plenty of cocaine sold to the unsuspecting public!
think its been debunked that coca cola invented red and white santa. plenty of prior art has been produced.
I thought this post was about God almighty, creator and sustainer of the universe, coming to earth in time and space in the form of the impoverished, illegitimate refugee baby Jesus. Is Coca Cola really so exciting by comparison?
Interesting perspective John, comparing views of commercial spin doctors from 4th century and 20th century
coca cola and religion – both man made 🙂
….and one has brought joy to millions of people!
Man made: music, dance, art, science, medicine, reflection.
Yeah, if it’s man made, it must be rubbish.
Correct, Daniel. And the other rots their teeth.