When Mary and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem, it was full of people who had arrived to be counted. They started to look for a place to stay as the baby was about to be born.
“Have you got any room at the inn for my wife and I to stay?”

Over and over, the reply was: “There’s no room here I’m afraid!”

Finally, one innkeeper found a space for them, but all that was left was the end of the house where they kept the animals - a stable.

That very night, Mary’s baby was born. Joseph named the baby ‘Jesus’ which means ‘God saves’.

Mary tenderly wrapped him up in cloths, called ‘swaddling bands’ and laid him to sleep in the animal feeding basket - the manger.