First nativity

Apparently, the first-ever Nativity scene recorded in history was created 800 years ago by St Francis of Assisi. He was concerned that the meaning of Christmas was becoming lost as many people were more focused with the ritual of gift giving than with the message of Christmas.

Determined to remind people about Christmas, he set about creating the world’s first known Nativity scene. It was created in a cave and near Greccio, Italy, and involved real people and animals, making it a living Nativity scene.