Nestor the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey is a 1977 Christmas stop motion animated television special produced by Rankin/Bass Productions. It originally premiered on ABC on December 3, 1977. The story is the tale of a donkey named Nestor in the ancient Roman Empire. After the Romans invade and try to kill him his mother sacrifices herself to save his life. He is then told by a cherub that he will still fulfill a great mission when he has to guide Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem for the birth of a child on the winter solstice.