A different 'take' on the birth of Jesus
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (370924)
Rockingham, Australia
November 23, 2025 7:23pm CST
Bishop Salvado established the monastery town of New Norcia and I’ve written quite a few discussions about it.
The aborigines he worked with and educated were not so much primitive but completely uninformed about what was outside their own environment. So Jesus’ birth in a stable surrounded by donkeys, cows and sheep meant nothing to them.
However, they could relate to a baby born under grass-trees with kangaroos, kookaburras and emus looking on. This fresco is one of several on the walls of part of the church. All have an Australian flavour.
14 people like this
11 responses
@LadyDuck (492593)
• Italy
24 Nov
@JudyEv I am sure, they cannot imagine the representation in another country. In Italy the classic "Presepe" (nativity representation), is a village with houses and often with snow, that is also NOT correct. This is the photo of a classic Italian presepe. I stopped making one, too much work.
2 people like this
@AmbiePam (112096)
• United States
24 Nov
I understand that bit of thought. Not Biblical, but a lot of cultures take liberties. I remember my dad telling me once he went to a Korean church, and in paintings shown there Jesus was portrayed as Korean. Then, I attended a primarily African American church, and Jesus was portrayed as black.
It’s an odd thing since Jesus was Jewish and that is well documented.
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@LindaOHio (212948)
• United States
24 Nov
Interesting that Jesus's birth was shown as something the Aborigines could relate to.
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@2ndchances24 (11647)
• Cloverdale, Indiana
24 Nov
I don't get it?? "So Jesus’ birth in a stable surrounded by donkeys,
cows and sheep meant nothing to them. "but they could relate to a
baby born under grass-trees with kangaroos, kookaburras and
emus looking on" ??
2 people like this
@JudyEv (370924)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Nov
We are talking about Australian aborigines in the mid-1800s. They'd only known about white men for a few years. They would never have seen donkeys, cattle or sheep so it would have just been a meaningless fairytale to them. Put in terms of animals and an environment they knew, they were more likely to understand.
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@2ndchances24 (11647)
• Cloverdale, Indiana
24 Nov
@JudyEv o.k I guess that would make some sense.
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@GardenGerty (167574)
• United States
24 Nov
His vision and understanding is awesome.
1 person likes this
@Fishmomma (11629)
• United States
24 Nov
I like the idea of making it relate to what you already know, as when people would tell me stories as a young person would understand them better. Now as an old person think I like to go explore online about other beliefs and ways things are done by others.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (370924)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Nov
When you're young, there is a lot that doesn't make sense. These people had never been outside their own environment so the original version mightn't have made much sense to them.
@RasmaSandra (93905)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
24 Nov
I like that it is certainly different,
1 person likes this
