Tags: Child Health and Growth, Parenting
By Anna Valmero
CABUYAO, LAGUNA— Reverend Father Bert Sandiego of the St. Francis of Assissi Parish in Bgy. Pulo here urges parents to take time in explaining the story of the Christmas Nativity Scene or belen to their young children.
“The belen is one of the popular Christmas decorations that homes throughout the nation have on display to celebrate the season. But more than mere decorations, it tells us the story of how Jesus was born and the story has a lot of values that children can learn from,” said Fr. Sandiego.
“Christmas is not all about the parties to attend nor the gifts one will receive. It is welcoming the birth f Christ and preparing ourselves for that birth by doing away with our old ways.”
According to Fr. Sandiego, the first Nativity Scene was created by St. Francis of Assissi in 1223 in his attempt to tell people that Christmas is more than materialism and gift giving but rather by transforming oneself to a better person.
The first belen was in fact life-sized because it used actual persons who stood in a makeshift manger. Later on, people created depictions using materials such as paper and ivory figurines.
Parents could begin by telling their kids about the main figures in the scene, namely the Virgin Mary, Saint Joseph, baby Jesus in the manger and the Three Wise Men. The Belen is also an inspiration for other Christmas symbols such as the lantern and the celebration of the Three Kings’ Day held every January 6.
The Christmas lantern (parol), which are seen everywhere depicted in all sizes and shapes, is based on the Star of Bethlehem that guided the Three Wise Men on their travel.
Children should know that Jesus was born in a manger or cattle feed because after his parents fled the kingdom of King Herod who ordered to kill all young boys in fear that one of them will overthrew him from power.
According to the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, Mary and Joseph could not find an inn to accommodate them except for a stable. This also explains the animals and the shepherd boy who granted them temporary shelter, narrates Fr. Sandiego.
Being born in a manger shows the humility of Jesus as he came to earth, he pointed out.
Journeying to witness the birth of Jesus are Three Wise Men or Magi, more commonly called as The Three Kings whose names Melchor, Gaspar and Balthazar appeared only 500 years after the birth of Jesus. Traveling very far, the three were guided by a single star that shone brightly above the rest. The star led them to the stable where Jesus is and they offered him valuable gifts fit for a king – frankincense, gold and myrrh.
“The Belen is our Christmas story and it teaches us values of humility and how to become better ourselves. It is a time to give and not only about receiving the most expensive toys. It is a time for family to be together,” said Fr. Sandiego.
Sandiego urgea parents to tell the story of the Nativity scene to their kids until January 6, when the feast day of The Three Kings are observed.
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