"In terms of plain narrative, the Nativity story is hard to beat. It has pretty much everything: a journey, a baby, a mass murderer, refugees, the kindness of strangers, music, animals and big, big special effects."

Old fashioned Nativity scenes usually do have Herod, sitting off to the side, looking mean and miserable. This gives the story the drama, the shadow of evil, and the edge of truth that it needs. Yet it seems that many of the creche scenes I see contain only sweetness and light. Without the dark side, the light becomes only a pastel sentiment.