Start of Nativity Scenes
But the Nativity scene, which is being recreated in the town squares and churches around the world was first conceived by Saint. Francis of Assisi.
A lot of what is known about Francis comes from “Life of St. Francis,” written by the 13th century theologian and the philosopher St. Bonaventure.
Francis was born into a merchant family in the Umbrian town of Assisi situated in modern-day Italy circa 1181. However, Francis rejected his family’s wealth earlier in his life and cast off his garments in the town square.
In 1209 he established the mendicant order of the Franciscans which was a religious organization that dedicated itself to works of charity. They are now a religious order that is providing for the spiritual and material demands of the less fortunate as well as the marginalized in society.
According to Bonaventure Francis 1223 sought the permission of the pope Honorius III to perform a task “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 tiny Italian town of Greccio.
One participant, in the crowd that gathered for this celebration, claimed that Francis included a doll that shed in joy, and “seemed to be awakened from sleep when the blessed Father Francis embraced Him in both arms.”
The miracle of the child’s crying captivated all who were present, Bonaventure writes. However, Francis was able to create another miracle as well: the Hay that the child lay in healed animals, as well as protected people from diseases.
Nativity Imagery in Art
The Christmas nativity figures story continued to grow within Christian worship even after Francis died. In 1291, Pope Nicholas IV, the first Franciscan pope, ordered the permanent Nativity scene to be built at Santa Maria Maggiore, the largest church dedicated to Mary the Maria Mary situated in Rome.
The Nativity theme was the most prominent in Renaissance art.
This first living Nativity scene, popularly painted by Italian Renaissance painter Giotto di Bondone in the Arena Chapel of Padua, Italy and established the new tradition of staging an event celebrating the birth of Christ.
The Tondo, a circle-shaped painting depicting the Adoration of the Magi, was painted by 15th-century painters Fra Filippi and Angelico. Not just are their sheep but also a donkey, a cow, and an ox. There is also a peacock that looks over the top of the manger to see Jesus.
Political Turn of Nativity Scenes
After the birth of Jesus, King Herod was concerned that his authority was under threat due to Jesus had ordered the execution of the boys younger than two years old. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph were required to flee to Egypt.
In recognition that Jesus, Mary, and Joseph are refugees themselves, in recent years some churches have utilized the Nativity scenes as a type of political activism to express their opinions on the need to provide immigrants with justice. In particular, this kind of “protest nativities” have criticized President Trump’s executive order that banned family separation along the U.S.-Mexico border.
These displays, which call attention to the suffering of immigrants and asylum seekers are bringing the Christian tradition into the 21st century.
Vanessa Corcoran is an adjunct professor of history along with an academic counselor for Georgetown University.