Mary & Jesus

The Nativity Scene

Candy Cane

Nativity scenes (also referred to as a creche, French for 'crib' or 'manger') is a simple model of the birth of Christ as described in the Bible.

Tradition has it that St. Francis of Assisi created the first nativity scene in 1223. He set up an altar in the town square of Greccio Italy; a live donkey and ox were tied to a rough straw-filled feeding trough. St. Francis intentionally chose this simple setting to remind Christians of that day of the humble origins of Christ's birth. Even with the later addition of Mary and Joseph, shepherds, the Wise Men, and even the Baby Jesus, nativity scenes retain this air of simple realism and impoverished glory.

Nativity scenes can be either models or living scenes with real animals and people reenacting the miracle of Jesus' birth.

“The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master’s crib,
but Israel does not know, my people do not understand.”
Isaiah 1:3