| “ | ...and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. | ” |
— The Gospel of Matthew, describing the reaction of the Magi to the sight of the star | ||
The Star of Bethlehem was a celestial event, its exact nature unclear, described in one of the four Gospels of the New Testament. It was said to have led the Wise Men following the path to Bethlehem and the birth of Jesus. Inspired by this account, a star is often placed on top of a Christmas Tree or hung in windows for First Advent.
Because of the powerful iconic imagery involved, the Star of Bethlehem is often featured in fiction about the birth of Jesus. Some stories even focus exclusively on the celestial events and its effects on those that view or seek it.
The Star appears in the following Christmas specials:
- The Little Drummer Boy
- The Star (The Twilight Zone)
- The Star
- The Small One
- Nestor, the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey
- The Night the Animals Talked
- The Berenstain Bears' Christmas Tree
- George and the Christmas Star
- Animaniacs: "Little Drummer Warners"
...and of course, almost any tale using the Nativity as a backdrop.