Nativity scene decoration

As a detective working on the mystery of the crossword clue ‘Nativity scene decoration’, I first considered the context of the clue itself. I knew that ‘Nativity scene’ specifically referred to the depiction of the birth of Jesus Christ, and that ‘decoration’ could refer to any element of the scene intended to enhance its visual appeal. I then considered common elements present in traditional Nativity scenes, and soon realized that the answer had to be ‘STRAW’. After all, in many depictions of the scene, the baby Jesus is shown lying in a manger, or feeding trough, which is often depicted as filled with straw. This straw serves both a practical purpose – providing a comfortable place for the infant to rest – as well as a symbolic one, representing the humble conditions of his birth in a stable. Overall, my investigation led me to conclude that ‘STRAW’ was the most fitting answer to this intriguing clue.