The meaning of Christmas and the way it is celebrated varies widely among our Westfield community. This year, we were lucky enough to get some star year 6 students from Norwest Christian College, to create an artwork representing Christmas. Each student worked on an individual piece, which was then collated into a mosaic, showing the Nativity scene. We then asked the students about what Christmas means to them and how they celebrate the season.

The Norwest Year 6 students have created individual artworks with vibrant oil pastels. According to the school's Principal, Mrs Felicity Marlow, "the mosaic is our collective artistic impression of the story found in the Bible, in Luke 2:11 as an angel tells shepherds that ‘Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord'."

Mrs Marlow explained the nativity story from the Bible includes all the aspects found in Jesus’ birth story, including:

• The manger – the angel shared with the shepherds that the sign of the Messiah will be ‘a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’ (Luke 2:12).

• Jesus, Mary and Joseph – the shepherds ‘hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.’ (Luke 2:16).

• The star and the wise men – they saw a bright star in the sky and ‘went to worship [Jesus]’ (Matthew 2:2).

How do you celebrate Christmas?

The students celebrate in a range of unique ways, including camping, eating vegan dumplings and noodles with their family and heading to the beach for a sunny, sandy day. Other children celebrate by decorating their house with a Christmas tree, stockings, Nativity scenes and a full front yard of bright, twinkling lights. For all the students, the main theme was spending time with their family and loved ones on the 25th.

For Mrs Marlow, celebrating Christmas includes “attending church and joining together to sing songs of praise (Christmas carols). To be reminded of all that God has done for us is pivotal. Beyond that, a typical Christian Christmas is probably like most families – gathered together with loved ones, around a shared meal, sharing in God’s goodness.”

What does Christmas mean to you?

For the kids, the meaning of Christmas has two key elements. The first was “to give and celebrate Jesus’ birth”. The second was “a day of rest and relaxation, enjoyed with family and cousins”.

Mrs Marlow explained that for Christians, “the birth of Jesus is God’s great act of love; to bring healing. Christmas means the fulfilment of God’s Word, which was spoken centuries ago; ‘For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.’ (Isaiah 9:6).”