Away In A Manger

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled... And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city. And Joseph also went up from... Nazareth to... Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.

And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered. And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
~Luke 2:1-7

Yes, there was quite a bit of hustle and bustle at that time because a census was going on, and everyone wanted to make themselves counted. The inns/hostels/guesthouses were all full, and Joseph and Mary had to stay with the animals. So I think, to really experience Christmas, maybe one has to visit the zoo, or at least a place with farm animals, instead of visiting the shopping centres. Farm animals don't need to make themselves counted. They're usually quite unassuming and gentle, very much like the Babe.

So there're similarities between the ancient story and what we see nowadays. Folks are busy with holiday activities, shopping, dining... business is good, inns are full, Tangs is now having a post-Christmas sale, which is probably closer to the Biblical account. (The three wise men only did their Christmas shopping after Jesus was born.)

So that's where all the action seems to be. And it's easy to get carried away. Because the real story was found in the quiet stillness of the night with hay and stuff... and the occasional mooing from the cow...