Most of the Christmas season's best carols were written at least 50 years ago, but they still ring true in the New River Valley today. If the New River Valley had a Christmas 2007 soundtrack, here's what it could sound like.

In fields where they lay keeping their sheep

on a cold winter's night that was so deep.

Noel, noel, noel, noel!

The majority of the 100 or so people performing in Heritage Church's "Living Nativity" at the New River Valley Fairgrounds in Dublin wore elaborate costumes handmade by church members. But at least three did not, and rightfully so. They're not people.

Two sheep and one donkey owned by Pulaski County farmer Alfred Woodyard also starred in the Nativity.

Woodyard, 60, isn't a member of Heritage Church but has donated his animals for the performance for years, he said.

He has 75 sheep, six donkeys and a slew of horses and cattle on his 700-acre farm called Little Creek.

Woodyard owns Katahdin sheep, a relatively new breed that have hair instead of wool. He gave up the wool business about five years ago.

"You don't have to sheer them, they shed like a goat," Woodyard said of the Katahdin breed.

Woodyard said the sheep aren't too much trouble. He lets them roam where they please on his farm. In the wintertime, he has to feed them grain and hay. This time of year is also when the sheep begin giving birth, or "lambing."

Jolly old Saint Nicholas,

lean your ear this way!

Don't you tell a single soul what I'm going to say.

Christmas Eve is coming soon,

now you dear old man. Whisper what you'll bring to me, tell me if you can.

So what makes Santa Claus so jolly? Is it the cookies? The sweet ride? The fanciful gaze of Mrs. Claus? These may all be contributing factors, but Jim Gorman, one of Santa's many helpers, shared the biggest reason.

"Giving," Gorman said. The Blacksburg potter and security guard said he gets in the fuzzy red suit about eight or nine times during the Christmas season for friends, family and the community. He's appeared at the New River Valley Mall and in the Blacksburg Christmas parade. This year, he also took gift requests at the Lyric Theatre before the Dec. 7 Christmas parade.

Although Gorman usually gets paid for his gigs, he likes to redirect his checks to local charities or suggest that an organization contribute to a charity in his name.

"It makes you feel good when you give," Gorman said.

What child is this,

who laid to rest,

on Mary's lap is sleeping?

Whom angels greet

with anthems sweet

while shepherds watch are keeping?

On Tuesday, many people will celebrate the birth of Christ. But this year, Angel McGhee of Elliston will also celebrate the birth of her son, Hunter, a present that arrived about 5 p.m. on Christmas Day last year.

The contractions started shortly after midnight, McGhee said.

"At 4 a.m. my water broke, so I got Steve up," McGhee said. Steve Witt, Hunter's father, drove McGhee to Carilion New River Valley Medical Center in Radford.

When the couple arrived at 4:30 a.m., nurses assisted McGhee in walking to help ease the contractions.

Hunter was born about 12 hours later.

"I don't remember much after I had him because I was so tired," McGhee said.

If she hadn't given birth that day, McGhee said she and Witt would have visited their parents' houses in Elliston and Shawsville.

This year, she hosted Hunter's first birthday a few days early to cater to extended family's busy schedules on Christmas Day. Hunter will get presents for his birthday and Christmas, she emphasized.

Hunter was one of two babies born last Christmas at Carilion New River Valley Medical Center, said Cleo Williams, director of family services.

Marjorie Young, director of the Birthing Center at Montgomery Regional Hospital, said no babies were born in that hospital last Christmas.

Do you hear what I hear

ringing through the sky

shepherd boy?

Do you hear what I hear?

A song, a song

high above the tree

with a voice as big as the sea. With a voice as big as the sea

Young voices belted out old tunes on the streets of downtown Blacksburg on Dec. 7. The Blacksburg High School Madrigal Singers, directed by Jan Blumenthal, sang old-time Christmas songs for a rapidly growing crowd of onlookers at Henderson Lawn. By old-time, we're talking Renaissance pieces.

The choir's repertoire included "Psallite!" a Latin piece by Michael Praetorius that translates to "Now We Sing"; "Let Us Play a Gay Musette," a contemporary arrangement of an old French carol; and the well-known Ukrainian "Carol of the Bells."

Madrigals are "Renaissance period songs about love and nature," Blumenthal said. She has a drawer full of holiday madrigals that she chooses from each year.

The group, which meets during class time, has been in existence for more than 19 years, Blumenthal said. The 15 spots are chosen during a spring audition. Once singers pass an audition, they can remain in the choir until graduation.

The choir sings madrigals a cappella and performs in Renaissance costumes.

The singers performed in a slight drizzle this year, but it didn't faze them.

"We've sung in snow and very high wind one time," Blumenthal said. "Since it's a portable group, we deal with a lot of different scenarios."

O Christmas tree,

O Christmas tree,

how steadfast are

your branches.

Perhaps one of the most steadfast trees lining the hallway in the Inn at Virginia Tech is the one holding 20 tiny beds on its branches.

The tree, decorated by Sew Biz staff in Radford, is a contestant in The Fashions for Evergreens contest organized by Michael Quonce, marketing manager for the Inn at Virginia Tech and the Hotel Roanoke.

Visitors may stop by both locations to vote for the best of the 13 trees at the Inn and of the 25 trees at the Hotel Roanoke. The trees were designed by local artists and businesses, and the first-, second- and third-place winners at each location receive gift certificates to the hotels.

Quonce said the hotels provided all participants with a 10-foot pre-lit artificial tree, but the rest of the decorating was left to the competitors.

Sew Biz staff began working on its tree six months ago, said owner Marianne Beeson. The mission was to illustrate the line "The children were nestled all snug in their beds" from the popular tale "The Night Before Christmas."

Linda Jean Tenley and her husband, Benny, created 20 tiny beds for the display. Benny Tenley crafted the headboards and painted the faces of the 20 dolls resting in their beds. Linda Jean Tenley sewed tiny nightgowns for the dolls. Sew Biz staff asked members of the Radford-based River City Quilters to make quilts for the bed.

"We provided the fabric and we had 20-plus volunteers to make the little quilts," Beeson said. Other Sew Biz staff members sewed additional ornaments for the tree. Linda Jean Tenley ran across an antique copy of "The Night Before Christmas" that belonged to her grandmother. The decorators made copies of the pages for the tree.

Other trees are decorated in themes relating to snow, Virginia Tech, watering cans and more. The number of participants grew from eight to 13 this year, Quonce said. Trees will be on display through New Year's Day.

O little town of Bethlehem

how still we see thee lie.

Above thy deep and dreamless sleep

the silent stars go by.

It's a short walk under the stars from Slusser's Chapel Church of God to the old white chapel just down Mount Tabor Road. Shepherds tending live sheep congregate in the chilly night air.

Inside the chapel doors, a census taker asked for the family's name. Then, the bustling town of Bethlehem was revealed, complete with a basketmaker, carpenter, baker, soldiers, a well, an inn and, finally, the stable where Mary and Joseph bask in the birth of Jesus Christ.

Although it took little more than 10 minutes to walk through this interactive reconstruction of Bethlehem, it took members of Slusser's Chapel Church of God weeks to create.

Drapes and foam insulation were used to form buildings and passageways. Costumes were made by hand. Actors and actresses, plus an infant and a sheep, were enlisted.

The church has put on the show every other year for 10 years now, said Minister of Music Beth Gilbert. This year, it was Dec. 7, 8 and 9.

Admission was free, but a donation to the Caring Pregnancy Center in Christiansburg is suggested.

"Because Jesus came into the world as a baby, we go out and try to save some more babies," Gilbert said.

Church member Patty Fuller worked closely with Gilbert to create Bethlehem.

"This is Christmas for me," she said. "The whole family is involved, the kids are involved. This means Christmas."