Coming from a family of artists and crafters, we make a lot of handmade 
gifts for Christmas. It’s fun to see what each project looks like because I understand that each person puts their own little slant on what they are creating.
A different color palette
Fantasy trees in a landscape
Caricatures
Adding a bit of a different medium to whatever is being created.
At this time of year, I see a lot of artistic license in the way that the Nativity is portrayed in story and in art.
Did Mary ride a donkey? Scripture says “they went up.” (Luke 2:4-5) She may have ridden on a donkey and they would probably have gone with a caravan or at least a group of people for safety reasons, but Scripture doesn’t tell us.
Was Jesus born in a stable or a cave? (Matthew 2:6-7) First of all the inn was probably a family home, and not a hotel as many people think. Because of the census, it would have been crowded everywhere. Tradition holds that He was born in a stable but at that time, stables were often part of the house. Some also believe that He could have been born in a cave in a hillside nearby. The manger or feeding trough could have been in either place.
When did the wisemen arrive to see the Child and how many wisemen were there? (Matthew 2:11-12) Scholars believe that they arrived approximately 2 years after Jesus was born. The word child in Greek means older than a baby. Also Scripture says that, “on coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary,” so Joseph had moved the family from the stable.
We assume that there were 3 wisemen because they brought 3 gifts, gold, frankincense and myrrh. But again Scripture does not tell us how many men came. There could have been 2 or as many as 12, as some believe.
We add details and ideas to our creche or nativity scene to make it more artistically pleasing. But the most important thing to remember is that we are celebrating the birth of God’s most beloved Son. The child Jesus Who came to Earth for us. What an amazing gift!
Emmanuel
God with us.
Merry Christmas