The Creche

There is a tradition that the first Nativity Creche or Nativity Scene was produced by St. Francis of Assisi at Greccio, in central Italy.  The story is that, even in that day, the festival of the birth of Jesus had been polluted by secular materialism and that the development of the creche was an attempt by Francis to bring the focus of the day back to faith.

“Nativity Scenes” come in all sizes and in a huge degree of elaboration.  Some are simple, unpainted one-piece representations of Mary, Joseph and Jesus.  At the other end of the scale are creches with large figures that depict the Holy Family, shepherds, Magi, sheep accompanying the shepherds, camels in the presence of the Magi, various barn animals associated with the manger of Jesus, angels and others.  I have a tree ornament that represents the central three figures in silhouette.  And I have seen creches in church sanctuaries that were ¼ scale of real-life persons and animals.  This does not take into account the so-called “living Nativity” that some congregations present with live actors portraying the characters of the story and real farm animals (and even camels) present to present an extra layer of pageantry.

Each of these arrangements serves to present a visual expression of the Nativity story.  Some are broken out in their entirety at the beginning of Advent.  Other have a barn structure to which other representations are added as the season progresses.  Mary, Joseph and Jesus make their appearance on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.  The Magi are not inserted until Epiphany – January 6. 

Families, local congregations and even communities have long-standing traditions surrounding their “Manger Scenes.”  These extraordinary depictions of the events surrounding the birth of Christ hopefully serve the end St. Francis had in mind – to turn our hearts to God.