Where is the Christmas Story?

Background

I wrote this in response to a comment thread on Sabio's Triangulations Blog. It isn't intended to be a work of scholarship, but gives an indication of where the famous bits in the story come from. Notice that very little is agreed by both gospels (Matthew and Luke). The other two gospels (Mark and John) have no information on the birth. The nativity story is not told elsewhere in the bible.

Matthew's account is where we get the wise men and the star, Luke's account is where we get no room at the inn, and the shepherds.

Key

Content from the bible is in bold (Both Gospels, Matt and Luke). Content almost accurate from the bible is not bold, but is colored (Both Gospels, Matt and Luke). Material drawn from tradition is italicised. These are elements that aren't found in the biblical accounts. A mistake or misunderstanding is shown with a strike-through. These are elements I've heard in Nativity stories but that are either contradicted in the bible or found elsewhere. Other bits of content I've added are in grey text.

Hover your mouse over colored text in the story to see more information.

Joseph and Mary are engaged to be married. One night the virgin Mary is visited by the angel Gabriel who tells her that she will become pregnant by the Holy Spirit and will give birth to a baby boy who should be named Jesus, as was prophesized. The angel appears to Joseph to prevent him divorcing Mary.

A census is called and everyone is told to go to their home city. But Mary is late in her pregnancy. It is the cold dead of winter and the donkey ride is painful and long. As they arrive in Bethlehem with the snow starting to fall on the ground, they find the inn has no room.

A kindly inn-keeper allows them to sleep in the stables with the animals: a donkey and an ox. That night, Mary goes into labour and the baby Jesus is delivered, wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger. They name him Jesus, as the angel commanded them. Jesus sleeps quietly through his first night on earth .

At the same time, outside the stable, the night sky is lit up as a bright star is seen over Bethlehem. It can be seen from all over the world. Three Kings, wise men, from the Orient: Caspar, Balthasar and Melchior see the star in the west and journey from afar to worship the newborn baby. They bow down and worship Jesus as the king of kings, giving him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

Out in the fields, three shepherds are trying to keep warm around a fire, watching their flock of sheep. Suddenly an angel appears to them and they are afraid. The angel reassures them and tells them to go down in to the city and find the new born Jesus in the manger. As they are about to set off the sky is filled with a choir of angels singing. The shepherds take one of their newborn lambs as a gift for Jesus.