I am not for the Christmas traditions anymore. There is a reason why a specific day was not mentioned in the Bible for the most important birth.  December 25th was chosen by a Roman Catholic Pope.  Jesus Christ was probably born in late September or early October in accordance to one of the Jewish Feasts.  And the addition of Santa Claus influencing parents to lie to their children about someone who is supposed to have God-like attributes (remember the famous song about him). And the current President changed the White House Christmas Tree to the Holiday Tree so that non-Christians would not be offended anymore and he believes that God the Father and Allah are the same.  The possible next President probably agrees.  Most of the gift giving done is with hopes of receiving even better gifts.  But I still do a lot of intercessory praying during December because it is the best time for Christians and churches to evangelize.  Also during this month there are more news stories of compassionate actions done for others and so I pray each time I see such that others might be encouraged to do similar.  More about Christmas and other USA holidays can be found at http://www.box.net/shared/8vikemd3eb .

When I was in my first Christian school teaching ministry, two parents got angry that I wanted to have a birthday celebration instead of Santa Claus and gift exchange.  Most of us have celebrated December 24th and 25th with the wrong attitude and purpose during our childhoods and after.  But we also have celebrated our own physical birthdays wrongly.  The main emphasis should be thanking God for another year of life.  Where in the Bible does it say that we should get congratulations and presents?

But the most important facts are: What a sacrifice Jesus Christ made for us.  He gave up wonderful Heaven and His power to come to Earth and begin as a baby in a poor situation.  And later He had to resist temptations, suffer ridicule and a horrible physical beating, and die for us.  He fulfilled the death penalty requirement of all who break God's Law and conquered physical death, so that all who believe in Him and the full Gospel can have eternal life with Him in Heaven and on the New Earth where there will be no sin and sicknesses.

Our nativity scenes are orthodoxical wrong yet somewhat correct when compared to non-orthodox "gospels" or apocryphal books. Although this apocryphal books are not necessary accurate either, this particular one seems to contain or portrait our current secular version more "accurately".

"The Gosple of James, also sometimes known as the Infancy Gospel of James or the Protoevangelium of James, is an apocryphal Gospel probably written about AD 150. The Gospel of James may be the earliest surviving document attesting the veneration of Mary by stating her perpetual virginity (19-20) and presenting her as the New Eve (13)." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gospel_of_James

 In analysing the different biblical accounts one finds many contradictions and myths. As concluded by R.C. Symes:

"It is as difficult to harmonize the Bible’s accounts of the birth of Jesus with the record of his adult ministry, as it is to explain the inconsistencies in these birth accounts themselves. Instead of taking the nativity stories in Matthew and Luke literally, and thereby doing a disservice to historicity and rational thought, we should accept them as religious myths. They are beautiful legends embodying faith in the supernatural and the efficacy of prophecy. They are attempts by these gospel authors to put into words their conception of a momentous, divine event. And they do so in a manner consistent with what credulous people in ancient times expected.

Although we shall never be sure about the exact circumstances of Jesus' birth, we do know that about two thousand years ago, there was born in rural Palestine an extraordinary Jew who was to change profoundly the course of human history."

http://www.religioustolerance.org/xmas_lib.htm 

Merry Christmas!!!!!!! 

Tom, your point is pretty good for most people normally do not question the accuracy of the star story.

"The star of Bethlehem is also most likely a fabrication, consistent with legends of the ancient world that had heavenly events portend the births of great men. In first century Palestine there was no concept of astronomy and natural law as we know it. In reality, as anyone who looks up in the nighttime sky can verify, no star high in the heavens can shine only on a particular town, let alone on a specific house as the Bible claims (Matt. 2:9-11). The Christmas star, rising in the east, moving west to Jerusalem, and then taking a jog south to Bethlehem and finally remaining stationary, would have defied the laws of celestial motion." http://www.religioustolerance.org/xmas_lib.htm

Biblical you can see the lack of astronomy knowledge in Mat. 2:1-2 and 9-10:

"After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him." 

"After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed."

I like the the story of a celestial body announcing Jesus' birth even if astronomically faulty. We humans like a good story, don't we? 

Malleus, a gentle story of St. Francis and the Baby Jesus.  One I have not heard.  Is it generally known and shared among Catholics?

Caleb, certainly defying all natural laws.  To believe such phenomena is a choice, and I choose to believe.  An omnipotent God can make anything happen that He wishes, and surely, given the greatest event in history, this would be a time for such.  I agree with you, however, that supernatural stories were an expected part of the ancient religions and that some religious groups even now substantiate their faith with continual supernatural sightings.  A tourist trip to Israel, for example, is filled with objects which are claimed to be "the ___ that ____ used when he ____  . . ."  As long as there are humans, there will likely be the embrace of tangible miracles, whether real or invented. 

It depends Kathy. If one is raised in a Franciscan parish or school, then it is definitely a story that is known and shared. Catholics raised among other orders, such as the Benedictines or the Jesuits, would probably know of Francis and the creche, by may not know the specifics.
If you are interested in the story check out Francis of Assisi: The Saint: Early Documents, Vol. 1
One of my professors edited and translated much of it.

Barb, I really enjoyed that movie, much more than I expected!  I too thought it was very well done, bringing to light some of the first century customs that help us to add perspective to the wondrous story!  I saw it last year and would love to see it again anytime!