The phrase "cast a nativity" refers to the act of depicting the birth of Jesus Christ through a theatrical performance or visual display. There are several synonyms that can be used to describe this common Christmas tradition. One alternative phrase is "stage a nativity," which can be used to describe the act of presenting the nativity story as a play or performance. Additionally, one could use the phrase "create a nativity scene" to refer to the tradition of setting up a visual display of the manger and other elements of the story. Other synonyms for "cast a nativity" include "depict the Christmas story," "reenact the nativity," and "present the birth of Christ".