Among the many beloved Christmas carols sung during the holiday season is “The First Noel,” which recounts the story of the angels appearing to shepherds tending their sheep on a cold winter’s night. This scene is often recreated in homes with nativity sets, which typically include shepherds, sheep, donkeys, and the Holy Family.
The hymn continues, recounting the arrival of the three wise men who journeyed from afar, guided by a star, to seek the newborn king. Although the magi arrived sometime later, likely between one to two years after the birth of Christ, they are often included in nativity scenes to represent the entirety of the Christmas story. These elaborate sets can also include camels, wise men carrying gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, an angel, and a star hovering over the manger.
While these elements are traditional mainstays in nativity displays, one crucial element is often overlooked. The question has been raised: “Is there a dragon in your nativity?”. This question, drawn from the magazine Scene and Unseen by Julie Canalless, challenges the common perception of the nativity scene and prompts us to consider a more comprehensive representation of the Christmas story—one that acknowledges the presence of a lurking danger.
Canalless argues for a more realistic portrayal of Advent, suggesting that we “put dragons in our nativity displays”. To capture the true essence of the season, she proposes removing the baby Jesus from the scene, recognizing that He had not yet been born, and embracing the anticipation and uncertainty of the world awaiting His arrival. This unconventional approach to the nativity scene is grounded in the biblical account found in Revelation 12, which offers a cosmic perspective on the birth of Jesus, rather than a purely historical one.
Revelation 12 paints a symbolic picture of a woman “clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and on her head a crown of twelve stars”. Pregnant and in labor, she cries out in pain. Another sign appears in heaven: “a great red dragon with seven heads and ten horns” and seven diadems adorning its heads. The dragon’s powerful tail “swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth”. This imagery reveals a cosmic struggle between good and evil, represented by God and the red dragon, who the scriptures identify as Satan, the devil, or the evil one. This conflict centers on the forces of creation and destruction, as God brings life into the world, while Satan seeks to destroy it.
The dragon, in this context, represents the forces of evil that actively sought to destroy Jesus from the moment of His birth. Positioned before the woman about to give birth, the dragon waits to devour the child as soon as he is born. This image evokes the graphic and disturbing scene of a snake consuming its prey.
The biblical account demonstrates God’s protection over Jesus and Mary, even amidst this threat. Joseph, warned in a dream, fled with his family to Egypt to escape Herod, who, influenced by the evil one, sought to kill Jesus. Herod’s cruelty extended beyond Jesus, as he ordered the massacre of all male infants up to two years old in an attempt to eliminate the perceived threat to his power.
Revelation 12 continues to illustrate the ongoing spiritual warfare against those who follow Christ. The dragon persists in his battle against “all who love him and keep his commandments,” recognizing that believers represent the advancement of God’s kingdom and pose a threat to his dominion.
The inclusion of the dragon in the nativity scene serves as a powerful reminder that the Christmas story is not merely a sentimental tale of a baby in a manger. It is a narrative embedded within a larger cosmic struggle between good and evil. The vulnerability of the Christ child, lying in a manger, underscores the power of God’s protection and the ultimate triumph of good over evil. This perspective challenges us to view Christmas through a new lens, recognizing the profound significance of Jesus’ birth as a victory in the ongoing spiritual warfare.
The dragon, while a stark and perhaps unsettling addition to the traditional nativity scene, offers a valuable reminder of the true meaning of Christmas. It calls us to remember that Christ came into a world shrouded in darkness, facing immediate danger, yet emerged victorious. This understanding empowers believers to face their own challenges with courage and hope, knowing that God is continually working to redeem the world and protect His followers.