King Herod played the role of a tyrant. His actions were driven by his fear of losing his power. He thought the new - born Jesus was a threat to his kingship. So, he tried to eliminate this potential rival by ordering the massacre. Satan, in the background, was the spiritual force of evil that Jesus came to defeat. And the Pharisees and Sadducees, as the religious authorities, later on, would be the ones who constantly challenged Jesus and his teachings, but they were part of the 'villainous' forces in the broader context of Jesus' mission which began with his birth at Christmas.
King Herod's role was to be the persecutor. His order to kill the infants in Bethlehem was an act of extreme violence. He was the worldly power that tried to oppose the coming of the Messiah.
King Herod was a tyrant. His role was that of an antagonist. His fear of losing his power led him to attempt to kill Jesus. His actions, though evil, were part of God's plan as it led to Joseph taking Jesus to Egypt, which was also prophesied in the Bible.
The shepherds spread the news of Jesus' birth. After seeing the angels, they went to Bethlehem to see the baby Jesus and then told others what they had witnessed.
King Herod is often considered a villain in the Christmas story. He was afraid of the new - born king (Jesus) as foretold by the Magi, and in his jealousy and paranoia, he ordered the massacre of all male infants in Bethlehem in an attempt to kill Jesus.
In the Christmas story, Mary played a crucial role. She was the virgin who gave birth to Jesus. She was chosen by God to carry and give birth to the Son of God. Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, also had a significant part. When Mary visited her, Elizabeth recognized the significance of Mary's pregnancy even before the baby was born. And there were also the women who might have been present at the manger, though not much is specifically said about them in great detail, but they could have been there to help Mary and Joseph during and after the birth.
One could consider Herod as a villain in the Christmas story. He was afraid of the newborn King (Jesus) as foretold by the Magi. So, he ordered the massacre of all male infants in Bethlehem in an attempt to kill Jesus.
Mary had the most important role as the vessel through which Jesus entered the world. She was pure and obedient. Joseph, being a just man, took Mary as his wife and ensured their safety. Jesus, being God in human form, was the savior. The shepherds were like the first to be informed by the angels, and they went to see the new - born king, thus starting the spread of the news. The wise men, with their knowledge and resources, traveled far to pay homage to Jesus, which also showed his significance on a wider scale.
Well, to know exactly what Melinda Dillon did in 'A New Christmas Story', one would have to watch the movie carefully. Maybe she played a motherly figure or a neighbor. It depends on how the story was crafted. She might have been part of the heartwarming moments that are typical in a Christmas story, like helping with the Christmas preparations or sharing some important life lessons.
Ralphie has mainly been known for his role in 'A Christmas Story'. Not many other significant roles are widely recognized.
Honestly, I don't know off the top of my head. But you could try looking on IMDB or similar movie databases for a complete list of the actor's roles.
In many Christmas stories, reindeer play a very important role. They pull Santa's sleigh, helping him deliver presents all over the world. And donkeys are often associated with the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem.