Christmas According to the Bible

The birth of Jesus is mentioned in several books in the New Testament, but the most thorough and detailed account of the event can be found in the book of Luke. The contents of the Nativity play are recounted in Luke 2:4-7, including a slight prequel about the census requiring Joseph and Mary to come to Bethlehem. The following passage comes from the New International Version.


"So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them". 


This primary source offers a simple but matching overview of the tale depicted in the Nativity play. Obviously, this translation would not have been the one used by the author of the York cycle, nor would it have been easily accessible to the majority of the public. As most of the population was illiterate during medieval times, the source for these plays was more likely a story known by the religious. 

Luke. New International Version. Bible Gateway. Web. 5 Dec. 2010. <http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+2%3A1-20&version=NIV>.