And yet these nativity scenes aren’t much more far-fetched than the traditional ones. Christmas, like many other holidays, is a social ritual informed by some mix of religion and folklore.

The Christmas 2023 Nativity scene at the Vatican will evoke the first-ever live manger, which was created by St. Francis of Assisi in Italy in the 1200s, the Vatican said Monday.

Motorists and pedestrians passing by Calvary Baptist Church at 20th Street and Broadway may have noticed that a familiar Santa Monica Christmas feature is missing — the Nativity Scenes.