The animals of field and of wood spoke, it is said, at the moment of the Nativity, when time paused in its course.

They spoke in Latin and their words sounded birdlike if they were a bird and beastlike if they were a beast.

Christus natus est (Christ is born) Bird chirped, Quando? (When?) asked Fox, Hac nocte (This night) Deer replied, Ubi? (Where?) asked Hare, Cardinal said the place was Bethlehem and Bear growled Eamus (Let us go).

The stork plucked its own feathers to soften the bed of the Christ Child and forever became the patron of newborns. The robin fanned the flames in the cave to keep baby Jesus warm and was given its red breast as a badge of honor. The nightingale sang for the first time, echoing the songs of the angels.

Mary, amused at the cat who came and went freely, blessed it, saying that it would always live at man’s hearth but never be his servant. And to the loyal dog, she gave the status of mans’ best friend.

All around the manger were arrayed the animals of farm and field. The ox and ass, the sheep and cock, the boar and goose. Above the child, birds of every kin nested in niches of the rocks.

And to celebrate Christmas, the universe sang. The heavens opened as a scroll. And for a time - no one knows the duration, the earth and the heavens became one. Time stood still. The animals were as aware as the humans, the trees and the flowers as alive as the rocks. Fragrance floated on the air.

Shepherds and kings awoke not at dawn but at mid night. An event had happened that had such power and such force, that time stumbled in its smooth course and misstepped. Sheep were frozen at the stream, which was frozen in its course. The eagle hung in the air, wings at full open, its prey frozen in mid stride. The night breeze ceased. The Three Kings were given three signs and they started journeys for which they were well prepared.

The Kings knew the signs they were awaiting would come. Was it a dream? An intuition? An angel? We know not, but that they were ready. Melchior, King of Arabia; Balthasar, King of Sheba; and Gaspar, King of Tharsis. Gaspar had an ostrich that hatched two eggs: from one emerged a lion and from one a lamb. Balthasar had a son born with full power of speech. Melchior saw a bird rise from his garden and speak in a human voice.

And they approached in a living crèche that has been reenacted in church and in statue and in many public places. Melchior brought gold, Balthasar, frankincense and Gaspar myrrh.

They were part of a gathering of folk from every class and walk of life who had been stirred to come see a child who lay in a manger arrayed with hay and herbs and flowers. Cloves and wild thyme and rosemary lined the trough and curled of their own accord to form a wreath around the child’s head.

Gifts were of the essence and the gold and myrrh joined a pair of doves, a lamb, and a pipe, a song and the Christmas rose.

The Kings kneeled in these humble surroundings, gentiles honoring the King of the Jews, bringing the world’s honor to one who was deemed the son of God.

When the three kings departed to bear witness in their own countries, the shepherds played their pipes and the children followed until the paths gave way. They traveled two years to return to their own countries and each lived to a very old age, being good kings and respectful servants of their experiences.

In a later age, their remains were taken to Constantinople, then by ship to Milan and long afterward to the Cologne Cathedral, where they lie to this day, behind the alter, encased in gold.

The Nativity characters are vivid. They are a marvelous story. There is man and beast, child and enchantment, angels and kings. There is a woman and a baby. And the wonder of the heavens envelops it all.

We know enough of the times to be able to infer the character of the original nativity. It took place in a cave or a stable, the people were cloaked – Kings in silks, Shepherds in rough cotton, all kneeling in supplication to the Christ Child.

Carvings survive from generations back of the Mother, the Baby, and Joseph. They reflect the attire and temper of the times. They are made of wood, of plaster, of satins and silks and rock. Some are beautifully detailed little worlds-in-miniature with hundreds of characters. Including many children and animals.

To bring the glorious moment to life, children of those times and these reenact the scene. Clothed as Mary and Joseph, as the shepherds and the kings, accompanied by lambs and donkeys, they form processions to the alter or sit on the lawns of churches. They sing carols, read scriptures and make holy a day in todays’ time that happened 2000 years ago.

The stories that accompany Christmas’ magical night are the sources of the traditions that transform us into slightly better beings as we give and unite in feelings of a universal holiday.

For Christmas is universal. Christians bring their beliefs into a season fraught with meaning for all peoples of all religions. There is nary a people who has not celebrated the beginning of the lengthening days. The end of December marks the winter solstice, the point in the earth’s yearly venture around the sun, when the lands in the Northern Hemisphere get the most oblique sun rays. The axis of the earth is tipped to give us the least light and warmth on the day of the winter solstice. But it is the day on which each day begins to lengthen and the hope of mankind again begins to grow longer with the days.

And in America, we have turkey and all the stuffings. We have our friends and our family. We sing carols or at least listen to Bing or Dean or Frank belt some out. It is a time of wonder, a time to ponder, a time to celebrate.

And people celebrate. For every reason they celebrated throughout the times and throughout the world.

The evergreen tree is the symbol of the return of life to what seems today dead and brown. When you plant this tree, you will be creating a bond with this moment forever.

And you must, as a family, create traditions that will endure in your children forever. Of all the holidays, Christmas is the one that brings the world together. For no matter what religion, whatever food and song, whatever smells and sounds, Christmas is the time when all the world is creating an aura of celebration and honor. The feelings of the season come in all shapes and sizes, from the feeling of Jack Frost nipping at your nose to the feelings of good will to all men. In a hundred languages and a thousand traditions, it is the time when we remember as adults, the best of our childhood. Make sure you write down the best of the best. Make a record of your recipes, your guests, your songs, your stories. They will be appreciated for generations as traditions of Christmas' past.

Each family celebrates Christmas in its own unique way. It is a time of new beginnings as well as a time of honoring the past. As the sun renews itself, we too can renew our convictions and beliefs.

For further reading on Christmas we recommend the following books:

The Evolution of the Christian Year by Alexander McArthur

Christmas Customs and Traditions by C.A. Miles

Christmas Treevia by D. Peter Harrington

Christmas Customs Around the World by Herbert Wernecke