In my native country Germany we unpack our presents today, so I wanted to gift you with some images that have given me a fresh insight into the Christmas story. A lot of the depictions of the nativity are so familiar that we forget that the story is shown through a particular cultural lens. The Bible presents the bare bones of the story, so there is a lot of room for the imagination! I hope my eclectic collection will help you to approach Christmas day with curiosity and discover the unfamiliar in the familiar story.
The first image is called Dreamtime Birth and was created by Aborigine artist Greg Weatherby. My eyes were immediately drawn to the huge hands, which appear to offer both protection and blessing to the new parents. The inclusion of Australian native animals also appealed to me. The Bible doesn’t detail which animals were present at Jesus’ birth; we assume that an ox and donkey were present based on Western art traditions. However, since the Bible mentions that Jesus was laid in a feeding trough, it is very plausible that he shared his first home with domestic animals. Setting the nativity in the Central Australian outback, not Israel, serves as a reminder that Jesus, born at a particular place and time, came for all cultures and peoples. Former internet site Boomerangsdownunder comments: “…In bold, earthy colours native emus, goannas, kangaroos and Dreamtime Beings pay homage to the new-born child. And millions of stars illuminate the Great Ancestor’s omnipresent hands while presenting the divine gift ….”
This painting is one of many Nativity scenes from around the world that were collected by blogger Victoria Emily Jones. Although her blog is no longer active, her collection of non-Western Nativities can still be accessed.
“The Cradle that Led to the Cross” by Jane Lazenby serves as a poignant reminder that the Nativity represents just one chapter in a greater cosmic drama. You can check out the artist’s perspective on her piece here
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When portraying scenes from the Nativity, there is the question of how to depict angelic visitors. I like the thought-provoking and humurous approach adopted by artist Brian Kershisnik
Joseph, who is often depicted as a calm pillar of strength in traditional Western paintings, appears exhausted and overwhelmed – and who can blame him, given the arduous journey with his heavily pregnant wife and the struggle to find lodging before the birth? In contrast, Mary appears to be enjoying a bonding moment with her newborn, with the agony of childbirth momentarily forgotten.
There is a throng of angels crowding into the scene for a closer look, yet remaining unnoticed — though Kershisnik suggests that the dog knows what is going on: “Only the dog can see the glorious river of angels. The mortals depicted, like us, are understandably and rightly distracted…”
This piece serves as a reminder that the spiritual and physical dimensions may intersect in ways that escape our notice.
My last Christmas image is of a sunflower that bloomed on our doorstep in December 2022. Sunflowers are typically found in summer gardens, much like kings are usually found in palaces. (That is why the wise men probably first travelled to king Herold when they were searching for Jesus. They may have assumed that their ancient navigation system, the Star of Bethlehem, got some details wrong.) Nevertheless, sometimes events defy human logic and expectation. The sunflower sprouted near a west-facing, imposing oak tree, so there was not much sunlight to encourage its growth – yet it grew anyway. Once the oak tree had shed its leaves, the sunflower had its moment of glory. This experience reminded me that Christmas is ultimately a story of perfect timing and triumph against all odds.
May we greet this Christmas day with a sense of wonder, being open to surprises. What would happen if you and I expected the unexpected?