The first Christmas day

There is more to Christmas than pretty Christmas trees and presents. Christmas is the time when we celebrate the birth of a baby boy called Jesus.

Here is the story of the very first Christmas day ever!

The Roman government needed to know how manypeople were living in the land of Israel. The best way to count them would be to have the head of each family return to the town where that family was born.

Because Joseph was from Bethlehem, he and Mary travelled there. So many people were also going to Bethlehem that there was no room left for everyone to stay!

Joseph was worried, because Mary was about to have a baby. A kind innkeeper told them that there was no room, but if they didnt mind, they could stay was the stable where the cows and horses were kept! Can you imagine how Joseph felt? But he had no other choice, so he took Mary to the stable and they settled down there.

While in the stable, surrounded by animals, Mary gave birth to a baby boy. She wrapped Him up warm in a blanket and laid Him in a feeding tray used by the animals.

The first people to hear of this new baby were some shepherds looking after their sheep in the hills near Bethlehem. Often shepherds would take turns staying awake throughout the night to guard their sheep from wolves and other wild animals.

During the night, an angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds. They were really scared, but the angel told them not to be afraid, and explained to them about the baby Jesus, and told them to go and worship him, cos he was the son of God!

Suddenly there appeared hundreds of angels in the sky. They were all singing to God and sang "Glory to God in the highest"

Wow! That sounds better than a Christmas card, eh?

When the angels disappeared, the shepherds quickly headed for Bethlehem. They were the first visitors that Jesus had. Afterward, the shepherds went out and told everyone they knew, and everyone who heard was amazed!

Far away from Bethlehem, there were some very clever men. They had seen a very bright star that wasnt there before, and the star shone over the stable when Jesus was born - can you guess who put it there? It was God, to show people that this was the place where his baby son was.

The wise ment knew this star meant the birth of a special person or king. They immediately left their homes and followed the star. They wanted to bring gifts to the newborn child.

The Wise Men went on their way and they found Jesus with His mother, Mary. They bowed down and worshipped Him. The Wise Men opened their presents and gave to Jesus their gifts of gold and sweet smelling perfumes that were very popular in their country.

And that is why we bring presents at Christmas time - but we musn't forget what Christmas is really all about - it is Jesus's birthday!

If you want to know why Jesus was such a special baby, read more about him here - who is Jesus?