Giving The Twelve Days of Nativity

Have you started any new traditions with your family this year? My daughter in law and her family celebrate what they call The Twelve Days of Nativity. Her grandmother left a wish to share the gospel through the nativity secretly. Each year they are trying to fulfill that wish. They bought 2 nativity sets. One is for an elderly widower in our church. The other is for a family not currently in church. Each day a piece of the nativity set and corresponding scripture is secretly left at the home of the family being gifted. I thought it was such a wonderful idea that I would share it with you. 

You may begin any time during December. If you begin early, the family will have the complete nativity set to enjoy and remind them of the true meaning of Christmas during the days leading up to Christmas.  If your family and friends celebrate the coming of the wise men in January, you may want to time the gifting so that the shepherds come on Christmas and the wise men come later. A third option may be to finish the gifting on Christmas Eve. 

You should be able to copy and print the scriptures from this post or paste them into a document that you can save from year to year. 

Day 1 - With this first passage send the empty stable.

Luke 2

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.

2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

Day 2 - Send Joseph.

4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

Day 3 - Send Mary.

5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

Day 4 - Send the baby Jesus in the manger. 

6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

Day 5 - Send sheep.

8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

Day 6 - Send an angel(s).

9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

Day 7 - Send 1 shepherd.

10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Day 8 - Send another shepherd.

15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

Day 9 Send first wise man.

Matthew 2

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

Day 10 - Send the second wise man.

4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.

5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,

6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.

Day 11 -  Send the third wise man. 

7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.

8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.

Day 12 - Send representations of the three gifts. 

10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.

12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

If your nativity sets contain camels or donkeys, you may want to send them on Day 9 and end with the third wise man especially if the wise men are already carrying their gifts. 

My daughter in law is having a great deal of fun hearing her friend try to figure out who is sending the gifts and why. 

Blessings at this and every Christmas,

A special thank you to the family of

 Agnes Chapman (November 30, 1937- December 4, 2014)

for sharing her Christmas wish with us. 

Gail Cartee