The Surprising History of Nativity Scenes and why we owe it all to Saint Francis.

In the small hilltown of Greccio, Italy overhanging the Velino river was where Saint Francis was living when he decided to take a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 1221 to see where God became truly human. Wanting to share this moving experience, he encouraged all believers to make the trip to Bethlehem. However, by 1223 the area was experiencing so much conflict from the powers trying to control the Holy Land, he could no longer safely recommend the trip. Knowing how powerful the imagery was for himself and seeing his parishioners getting more caught up in the material preparations for Christmas rather than the spiritual preparations, Francis decided to try something completely different to bring his flock back to the real meaning of the season (sound a bit familiar?). Because this was such a novel idea, Francis asked permission from the Pope and enlisted a local nobleman to help with his grand idea. In a cave outside of town, Francis celebrated Mass with a hay filled manger in front of a temporary alter with a real life ox and donkey standing right next to him, and townspeople standing in for Mary and Joseph. The crowd was so moved by the display that the Franciscans quickly spread the practice with the live nativity scenes throughout the country. Static versions also emerged so that the imagery could last longer. Now, a worldwide practice by many Christian cultures, we can thank Saint Francis the next time we are able imagine what that fateful night in Bethlehem may have been like for the Holy Family