The story of Christmas actually takes place in multiple locations, but the primary setting is the town of Bethlehem in Judea, which is now part of modern-day Israel. The story begins when Mary and Joseph, who were engaged to be married, traveled from their home in Nazareth to Bethlehem because of a census that required people to return to their ancestral hometowns to register. While in Bethlehem, Mary gave birth to Jesus in a stable because there was no room at the inn.