Back to the article: [[Francis of Assisi]]

====== The first Christmas crib ======

It was a cold winter night in Greccio, Italy, when St. Francis of Assisi had a divine idea. He wanted to create a living nativity scene to honor the birth of Jesus Christ.

It was the night before Christmas and St. Francis gathered a group of villagers. He asked them to collect hay, straw, an ox and a donkey from the nearby fields. They set up hay and straw and animals and a full-sized manger in a stable.

On the instructions of St. Francis, the helpers lit candles to give a soft light in the stable and lit a fire to heat the room. As they worked, St. Francis prayed and sang Christmas carols. A man, a young woman and a child were chosen to represent Joseph, Mary and the baby Jesus.

When everything was ready, St. Francis invited the people of Greccio to join him in the stable. He told them the story of Jesus' birth and they all sang praises and thanksgiving to God.

The living nativity scene was a powerful reminder of the power of faith and a demonstration of the joy of the Christmas season. It was the first of its kind and inspired many others to follow the example of St. Francis by creating living nativity scenes in their own cities.

The living nativity scene of St. Francis remains a beloved tradition to this day, providing a tangible reminder of the true meaning of Christmas.