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

It was the night before Christmas and Saint Francis gathered a group of helpers. He directed them to gather hay, straw, and an ox and donkey from the nearby fields. The helpers arranged the hay, straw and animals into a life-sized manger and placed it in a stable.

At Saint Francis' direction, the helpers lit candles to provide a soft light in the stable and lit a fire to keep the area warm. As the helpers worked, Saint Francis prayed and sang Christmas carols.

When all was ready, Saint Francis invited the people of Greccio to join him in the stable. He told them the story of Jesus' birth and everyone sang praise and thanks to God.

The living creche 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 it inspired many others to follow in Saint Francis' example by creating living creches in their own towns.

Saint Francis' living creche remains a beloved tradition to this day, providing a tangible reminder of the true meaning of Christmas.