Maia has a somewhat confused grasp on the concept and purpose of Christmas. I don't think the fact that her first nativity play is called Humph the Camel has helped tremendously. It is about the camels that took the Three Kings to see Baby Jesus.
While I am sure it is a great relief for the teachers to do something a little different with the kids at the nursery, it ain't great for explaining about Christmas to a three year old. So far, she thinks it is about camels, Father Christmas, HER birthday and presents. For her, naturally.
I am also a bit wary about telling her the whole Christian thang, given that I am a non-believer. I would feel duty-bound to tell her all the other stories from all the other religions, so she might be able to make up her mind if she fancied Getting Religion sometime in the future.
And we already have enough confusing stories at bedtime, thank you.
The newest one is called Melrose and Croc. In it, a lonely yellow labrador called Melrose hooks up with a small green crocodile (called Croc) at Christmas, somewhere snowy with palm trees. Croc is new to town, while Melrose has just moved in to a fabulous des-res on the shorefront. They don't know each other at all at the beginning and are all set for a truely rubbish Christmas all alone, then they bump into each other at the ice rink, go for tea, move in together and get presents from Father Christmas. All on the same day. Thank God they didn't meet on Clapham Common - for then the whole thing takes on a whole new level of meaning and becomes a rather different story. (Although does it? How come Jesus doesn't have any FEMALE apostles? I'm just sayin'....)
Also, I am pretty sure you can't mention the Jesus story without the Immaculate Conception bit, which is tricky, as we have yet to tackle Maculate Conception. See also the God bit, the Church bit and the Father-Son-and-Holy-Ghost bit (seriously, are they trying to be scary?).
Top of the league is the Coming Back From the Dead bit. This is particularly tricky, as Manky Cat is still at the bottom of the garden and I don't want to give the kid nightmares...or ideas.
So we will have to muddle through with a blend of camels, consumerism and fudging the issues. Merry Christmas!
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