shepherds
To get families to see each other the birth of Jesus - Originally it was a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. The giving of presents was to symbolise the present brought to the stable by the shepherds and 3 kings.
It was the angels who announced it to the shepherds.
They were first fearful of them, but the angels told them to not fear them because Jesus had been born
After Jesus' birth in Bethlehem, the shepherds were the first to visit him, according to the New Testament. The angels announced the birth to the shepherds, who then went to see Jesus in the manger.
The north star
At his birth he was found lying in a manger by the shepherds,
The Bible indicates that the Shepherds and the wise men simultaneously learned of the birth of Jesus, so I suppose you may say that they were equal second, after Jesus' parents to learn of his birth.
Mary, then Joseph, then Mary's cousin, Elizabeth.
You can say the signs were the star , shepherds and wisemen and Joseph and Mary.
The bible does not mention the names of the shepherds.
Only Mary and Joseph were there at the birth, the shepherds and wise men all came later.