“We already talked about it (at school). A star made the shepherds and their sheep follow that star. And then the king and all the animals and then baby Jesus laid down. And he was born. … Jesus was a very special gift.” — Hunter Steele, 5

“There’s a star that was going to Jesus. Everybody wanted to go, even the animals. The animals followed the star. The star went to Jesus. It’s Jesus’s birthday.” — Shelby Rucker, 6

“It’s Jesus’s birthday. We give presents to each other.” — Caroline Reed, 5

“Jesus’s birthday. … Santa comes and leaves presents under our Christmas trees.” — Nathan Deshaies, 6

“Jesus’s birthday.”– Jessica Clavet, 6

“Jesus’s birthday. We have to be nice.” — Ben Gosselin, 6

“Jesus being born.” — Shawn-Michael Chabot, 6

“Jesus died on the cross for us. And then we all hope that on his birthday, on Christmas Eve, that he would come back to life.” — Nicholas Bisson, 6

“It’s about to be good and get presents, and believe in Santa Claus.” — Briley Bell, 5

“Getting presents and opening them and saying thank you to Santa.” — Brooke Cloutier, 5

Dixfield Elementary School

“Caring.” — Magan Halle, 6, first grader

“Giving, and celebrating Jesus’s birth.” — Kyle Swett, 7, second grader

“Presents.” — Sam Holmes, 6, kindergartner

Strong Elementary School

“I think Christmas is about having fun and spending time with family. … You get presents too.” — Destiny Thorndike, 7, second grader

“Presents, Santa Claus and stuff. … And the Christmas spirit.” — Triston Walker, 8, second grader

“I give presents, and I get presents from my mommy and daddy, and I play with baby brother on Christmas.” — Bailey Haynes, 5, kindergartner

“Santa.” — Jack Deming, 5

What happens at Christmas? (Question asked at Freeland Holmes Library, Oxford.)

“Santa gives me presents.” — Courtney Record, 5, Oxford

On Christmas “I’m going to be a good girl.” — Rhiana Stygles, 4, Oxford

“It’s time to spend with family.” — Julie DiFazio, 10, Oxford

“You get to make cookies and open presents.” — Karleigh Dexter, 6, Oxford

“A bulldozer!” (toy.) — Cooper Bushey, 4, Oxford

Staff Writers Jessica Alaimo in Norway, Maggie Gill-Austern in Farmington and Terry Karkos in Rumford contributed to this report.