The Star of Bethlehem had five points. So today, for our Christmas edition, we've chosen five prominent Salt Lakers to offer points about the Nativity.
The goal is to view the manger scene from several new angles and perhaps - like the star in the sky - shed some light on Christianity's favorite story:
LAURA ESPINOZA, Mexican Consul for Salt Lake City (Catholic)
Although, for Mexicans, Christ is the most important figure at the Nativity, of course, at this time of year the Virgin Mary also assumes great importance. Many Mexicans are "Guadalupanos" (they believe Mary appeared to a small Aztec boy hundreds of years ago). They see Mary as the perfect example of motherhood. Many young girls tend to view the Virgin of the Nativity in that light. She is an example - a model - for their lives. She becomes the exemplary mother they want to become, as well as the exemplary mother they already have.
JOHN HOLLENHORST, KSL Television, (Lutheran)
The one thing that jumps to mind about the Nativity happened when I was growing up in Minnesota. The Methodists up the street had a Nativity scene that featured live animals. And I remember one night when I came home from a hockey game, a mule was standing in front of my house. It must have taken an hour to round up the mule and get it back. It made for quite a memorable Christmas.
LINDA NOWLIN, Utah poet and painter (raised Episcopalian)
When I think of the Nativity, I always remember a blue Christmas star on the top of a grain elevator where I grew up. Putting stars on grain elevators was a tradition in Loraine, Kan. And even though I was only 3 years old at the time, I remember it clearly. The star would shine in my window at night and seemed so hopeful and peaceful, especially on the prairie where it can get so dark. I still love blue lights in Christmas decorations.
PATRICK de FRITAS, proprietor of Waking Owl Books (Church of England)
In England, when I was 5 years old, I saw my first "living creche" (Nativity scene with real people). I remember looking at the people and thinking, "Boy, they sure must be cold." My parents thought it was a curious way to display faith. They preferred another tradition.
We lived in Cambridge, so every year we'd go to the King's College Choir concert. We'd spend the whole day queuing up just to get in, but inside it was a magical experience. There was no electricity, so all these candles were lit. It was really quite wonderful. When we came home from that event, I knew it was Christmas.
IVY RUCKMAN, children's author (raised as a Salvation Army soldier)
I grew up as a Salvationist in Nebraska, so my memory of the Nativity has to do with participating in the Christmas story play each year. Year after year. One year my brother and I got to write our own parts. I remember that. But I didn't even own a creche until three years ago. And I keep forgetting to put it out.
But in the Salvation Army there are other memories - like getting dimes from people who could least afford it and also handing out food. People would always give us more than they could afford.