I grew up without getting Christmas presents.
Mum liked to make sure that we remembered the 'True Meaning' of Christmas.
She reminded us that it was
Jesus's Birthday.
It never worried me, as my birthday is 1 wk before Christmas, however, Mum's way always made sense to us, so we didn't feel like we were missing out.
Being brought up on a farm, we'd always go for a drive to find the perfect 'real' Christmas tree, chop it down and decorate it...with no presents underneath...haha!
We'd have massive Christmas celebrations with family.
I have 42 cousins, so there was always a lot of fun and always too much food.
The thing that affected me the most at Christmas time, was the Nativity set.
We'd love unwrapping each figurine and setting it up.
Mum's nativity set always had a 'removable Jesus'.
Then she would hide the Jesus, and not put Him in till Christmas Eve, after we'd been to Mass.
We would rush inside after Church to see if He had been born.
The memories are so lovely, as we never rushed in for presents, but to see if the Lord Jesus was born.
After the nativity set had been set up (at the beginning of Advent), mum taught us that the manger had to have heaps of hay in it before Jesus was born, to keep Him warm.
So she said that each time we did something 'good', we could go find a piece of straw and place it in the manger...secretly.
Making sure that Jesus's bed would be warm when He was born, was our motivation to do good things.
What a great idea!
There was also a special way our nativity was set up.
We'd always place the donkey and cow behind the manger, so they breathed on Jesus to keep him warm.
The sheep always were in front of Him (facing Him), the angel hanging or behind the cow/donkey, watching over Him.
Mary and Jesus were obviously on either side.
The shepherd's on the left & the Kings on the right.
And they were all facing in towards the baby Jesus.
It's so funny, because when I see other nativity sets set up, I feel like changing them and placing them the way I was taught:)
So now I do the same with my children.
However, they get one book each, and it is a story about Christmas or a nice story about Jesus.
I never buy a nativity set without a 'removable Jesus', and they are quite hard to come by.
I understand the 3 Kings gave presents.
However, they gave them to Jesus, as it was His birthday.
All being said, my children don't miss out, as their Nan & Pop give them presents at Christmas time, when we go over there.
I know Christmas time is a time for 'giving', but I've already noticed my children don't concentrate on "present's" at Christmas time, but on the child Jesus and when He will be born and placed in the manger.
Here are some pictures of nativity sets I have bought over the years for my family or God children.
The one with the sand and rocks around it was the one I grew up with, Mum and Dad's.
If you click on the image, you can see them enlarged.
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Month One - The first cell divides and cell division continues in an orderly fashion as the small group of cells travels down the Fallopian tube to the uterus. There are over 100 cells present when this tiny embryo reaches the uterus 7 to 10 days after fertilization. Foundation of the brain, spinal cord and nervous system are already established, and on day 21 the heart begins to beat in a regular fashion. Muscles are forming, and arms, legs, eyes and ears have begun to show. The embryo is 10,000 times larger than the original fertilized egg and developing rapidly.
Month Two - The pre-born baby has all her fingers. Brain waves can be detected and the brain is controlling 40 sets of muscles as well as the organs. The jaw forms, including teeth buds in the gums. The eyelids seal during this time to protect the baby’s developing light sensitive eyes, the stomach produces digestive juices, and the kidneys have begun to function. The developing baby is now referred to as the foetus, a Latin word meaning “Young one.” 
Month Three - Unique fingerprints are evident and never change. The baby now sleeps, awakens, and exercises her muscles by turning her head, curling her toes, and opening and closing her mouth-often sucking her thumb. She breathes amniotic fluid to help develop her respiratory system. By the end of the month all the organs and systems of her body are functioning. The only major activity from now until birth is growth.
Month Four - By the end of this month the baby is 8 to 10 inches in length and weighs 1/2 pound. Her ears are functioning and the baby hears her mother’s heartbeat, as well as external noises. Because the pre-born child is now larger, the mother usually begins to feel her baby’s movements.
Month Five - Half the pregnancy has now passed. The baby is about 12 inches long. If a sound is especially loud and startling, she may jump in reaction to it. Babies born at this stage of development are surviving at an ever increasing rate, thanks to medical advances.
Month Six - Oil and sweat glands are functioning. The baby’s delicate skin is protected in the amniotic sac by a special ointment “vernix.”
Month Seven - The baby’s brain has as many cells as it will have at birth. The pre-born child uses the four senses of vision, hearing, taste, and touch. Research has documented that she can now recognize her mother’s voice.
Month Eight - The skin begins to thicken, with a layer of fat stored underneath for insulation and nourishment. The baby swallows a gallon of amniotic fluid per day. She often hiccups. She has been urinating for several months.
Month Nine - Towards the end of this month, the baby is ready for birth. After birth new brain cells are being formed for nine months. Likewise, other organ systems are still maturing. Of the 45 generations of cell divisions before adulthood, 41 have taken place in the womb. Only four more will come before adolescence. In developmental terms we spend 90% of our lives in the womb.
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