History of the Christmas Creche: the Manger scene
HISTORY OF THE CHRISTMAS CRECHE
One of the most beautiful Christmas traditions is setting up a creche during the Advent season. A creche is a model of the scene at the manger on the first Christmas in the stable at Bethlehem. A creche can be a small model, set up in the home or a large scene set up at a church or lawn.
The word crèche is the French word for a manger. A few years ago I was in Paris at Notre Dame. On display in the cathedral was a large creche that features a miniature scene of the village of Bethlehem, pictured below. This extends for about 50 feet, much larger than the small display that typically appears on a table top or yard. In Brussels, in the Grand Place, an “actual size” manger display was on display in the city center in front of the Town Hall.
Origin
The French word comes from the Italian word greccio. Greccio was the town where the first manger scene was set up by St. Francis of Assisi in Italy in 1223. Some say he did this as an alternative for pilgrims wanting to go to Bethlehem, which was then occupied by the Turks. Before that time, many churches had built nativity scenes, but these early mangers were covered with gold, silver, and jewels. They were much fancier than the original manger where the Christ child was laid. I was in Assisi a few years ago. The house Francis was born in is now a large church (see photo below.)
St. Francis wanted people to remember that Jesus was born in a humble stable. He asked a farmer friend of his to help by bringing an ox, a donkey, a manger and some straw to a nearby cave. On Christmas Eve, St. Francis and the people of Greccio met in this cave. By candlelight, they acted out the story of Jesus’ birth. St. Francis hoped that this would encourage people to remember the gift of God to men as the child born in a manger, and not all the materialistic gifts exchanged. Three hundred years later, Martin Luther had his children open their presents on Christmas Eve, to keep Christmas Day itself special to remember the Christ child.
What day do you open Christmas presents?
Bill Petro, your friendly neighborhood historian
www.billpetro.com
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