“And she brought forth her first-born son,
and wrapped him in swaddling clothes,
and laid him in a manger…”

In Germany, it’s called a Weihnachtskrippe. Spaniards know it as a naciamento. Italians say presepio; for the French, it’s a crèche. Since that starry night in Bethlehem 2,000 years ago, the celebration of Christmas has almost always included some scenic tribute to the Nativity. From simple representations of the three principal figures — the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph — Nativity sets have grown to include figurines of almost everyone even remotely connected to the Christmas story. In addition to the expected—angels, shepherds, the Three Kings, and a varied assortment of friendly beasts—many modern manger scenes also incorporate mythic secular characters. Current Bethlehem visitors include little drummer boys, homeless kittens — even kneeling Santas.

Early pilgrimages to the Holy Land served as inspiration for the Nativity scene tradition, and a sixth-century Roman basilica, “Holy Mary of the Nativity,” featured the first three-dimensional figures. It was, however, several more centuries before the concept of a figural Nativity scene really took hold. In the meantime, there were the “living Nativities” of the Middle Ages, staged in churches by costumed performers. The earliest and most famous of these was created by St. Francis of Assisi in 1223.

St. Francis felt that, for many of his congregation, Christmas had lost its true meaning. A “living Nativity” would bring the story closer to them. The village of Greccio, near Assisi, was restyled as Bethlehem; local shepherds (and their livestock) starred as the main characters. On Christmas Eve, torch-bearing villagers arrived to experience, in person, the wonder of the crèche.

Nativity dramas became a much-anticipated annual social event, but the boisterous crowds eventually proved too much for somber cathedrals. By the late 16th century, Nativity re-enactments had moved to town squares, eventually disappearing from view. The tradition resurfaced in the 20th century, with many communities again staging “living Nativities.” One of the most spectacular has been featured at New York’s Radio City Music Hall.
Figural representations were popularized in the 15th and 16th centuries by the Jesuits. These Nativity scenes in European churches were fashioned of wood, terra cotta, stone, fabric, or metal. They could be nearly full-size, half-size, or miniature, depending on space, and were often backed by a realistic stable setting.