ETYM French nativité, Latin nativitas. Related to Native, Naďveté.
1. The coming into life or into the world; birth; also, the circumstances attending birth, as time, place, manner, etc.
2. A picture representing or symbolizing the early infancy of Christ.
Christian festival celebrating a birth: Christmas is celebrated 25 Dec from ad 336 in memory of the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem; Nativity of the Virgin Mary is celebrated 8 Sept by the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches; Nativity of John the Baptist is celebrated 24 June by the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Anglican churches.