The Nativity: the adoration of the Christ-child by Mary and St. Joseph, who is holding a candle; annunciation of Christ's birth to the shepherds (background)

The Annunciation is a biblical event in which the angel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary to announce that she had been chosen to give birth to Jesus, the Son of God. The event is recorded in the New Testament in the Gospels of Luke and is a central moment in the story of the Nativity of Jesus. The scene typically depicts Mary and Gabriel, who is usually shown holding a lily, a symbol of purity, and announcing the news of the birth of Jesus to Mary.

The image of Mary holding the Christ Child is a common depiction in Christian art and is known as the "Madonna and Child." It represents the mother of Jesus and her son and is a symbol of motherhood, love, and compassion.

The Adoration of the Christ, also known as the Adoration of the Christ Child, is a subject in Christian art that depicts the presentation of the baby Jesus to the Magi (also known as the Three Wise Men). The Adoration of the Christ is based on the account in the Gospel of Matthew (2:1-12), where the Magi, guided by a star, travel to Bethlehem to worship the new-born King of the Jews. In artistic depictions, the scene often shows the Magi presenting gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the baby Jesus, while Mary and Joseph look on. The Adoration of the Christ is a celebration of the birth of Jesus and of the arrival of the first Gentile (non-Jewish) visitors to acknowledge him as the Messiah. The image is a symbol of the universality of the gospel message and of the idea that people of all nations are invited to worship Jesus as Lord.