Start of Nativity Scenes

But the Nativity scene, which is being recreated in church and town squares around the world was first conceived by Saint. Francis of Assisi.

The majority of what we know about Francis comes from “Life of St. Francis,” written by the 13th-century theologian and philosopher St. Bonaventure.

Francis is a member of a merchant family in the Umbrian town of Assisi, in modern-day Italy, around 1181. However, Francis was averse to his family’s wealth early in his life and took off his clothing in the square of the public.

In 1209, he founded the mendicant order of Franciscans Franciscans, a group of religious believers who devoted themselves to the work of the charity. They are now a religious order that is providing for the spiritual and material requirements of the needy as well as the marginalized in society.

According to Bonaventure, Francis 1223 sought the permission of his pope Honorius III to do something “for the kindling of devotion” to the birth of Christ. As part of his preparations, Francis “made ready a manger, and bade hay, together with an ox and an ass,” in the small Italian settlement of Greccio.

One person, who was part of the crowd that was gathered for this event, reported that Francis included a doll crying with joy. It “seemed to be awakened from sleep when the blessed Father Francis embraced Him in both arms.”

The experience of the child’s crying captivated all those present Bonaventure writes. But Francis made another miracle happen also: The baby’s hay in healed animals, and protected humans from diseases.

Nativity Imagery in Art

The Nativity story continued to grow within Christian religious culture long after Francis’ death. In 1291, Pope Nicholas IV, the first Franciscan pope, commanded that the permanent Nativity scene be built at Santa Maria Maggiore, the largest church dedicated to Saint Mary located in Rome.

Nativity scenes dominated Renaissance art.

This first living Nativity scene, famously depicted by Italian Renaissance painter Giotto di Bondone in the Arena Chapel of Padua, Italy and established an entirely new way of presenting an event celebrating the birth of Christ, this specific scene can be found in every proper nativity set parts store in Italy.

In the tondo, a circular painting of the Adoration of the Magi by 15th-century artists Fra Angelico and Filippo Lippi, there are not just their sheep but also a donkey, a cow, and an ox, there is also a peacock that peers over the top of the manger to catch a glimpse, Jesus.

Political Turn of Nativity Scenes

After the birth of Jesus After Jesus’ birth, King Herod, feeling as though his power was under threat by Jesus was threatened, ordered the execution of all boys under 2 years of age. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph were required to flee to Egypt.

In recognition in recognition that Jesus, Mary, and Joseph were themselves, refugees, in recent years some churches have utilized their Nativity depictions as a type of political activism to comment on the need to provide immigrants with justice. In particular, these “protest nativities” have criticized President Trump’s executive order that banned family separation along the U.S.-Mexico border.

These displays, which draw people’s attention to the dire situation of immigrants and asylum seekers, bring the Christian tradition into the 21st century.

Vanessa Corcoran is an adjunct professor of the history department and an academic counselor at Georgetown University.