Editing Nativity scene (section)

==Origins and early history==
[[File:Giotto - Legend of St Francis - -13- - Institution of the Crib at Greccio.jpg|thumb|left|''St. Francis at [[Greccio]]'' by [[Giotto]], 1295]]

The tradition of the nativity scene comes from Italy. One of the earliest representation in art of the nativity was found in the [[early Christian]] [[Roman catacomb]] of [[Catacombs of San Valentino|Saint Valentine]].<ref name="Osborne2020">{{cite book |last1=Osborne |first1=John |title=Rome in the Eighth Century: A History in Art |date=31 May 2020 |publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] |isbn=978-1-108-87372-7 |page=31 |language=English}}</ref> It dates to about AD 380.<ref name="Tuleja1999">{{cite book |last1=Tuleja |first1=Thaddeus F. |title=Curious Customs: The Stories Behind More Than 300 Popular American Rituals |date=1999 |publisher=BBS Publishing Corporation |isbn=978-1-57866-070-4 |language=English |quote=Francis Weiser (1952) says that the first known depiction of the nativity scene, found in the catacombs of Rome, dates from AD 380.}}</ref>  Another, of similar date, is beneath the pulpit in [[Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio|Sant'Ambrogio, Milan]], carved on [[Stilicho]]'s sarcophagus.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blog.urbanfile.org/2019/12/25/milano-santambrogio-il-museo-diffuso-una-delle-piu-antiche-rappresentazioni-della-nativita/|title=Milano-Sant'Ambrogio – Il museo diffuso: una delle più antiche rappresentazioni della natività|date=25 December 2019 |access-date=24 December 2024|language=it}}</ref>

The first seasonal nativity scene, which seems to have been a dramatic rather than sculptural rendition, is attributed to [[Saint Francis of Assisi]].<ref name="Matheson2012"/><ref name="Dues">Dues, Greg.''Catholic Customs and Traditions: A Popular Guide'' Twenty-Third Publications, 2000.</ref><ref name="Thomas">Thomas, George F.. ''Vitality of the Christian Tradition''. Ayer Co. Publishing, 1944.</ref><ref name="#MyLivingNativity">{{Cite web|url=http://mylivingnativity.org|title=#MyLivingNativity|website=Upper Room Books|language=en-us|access-date=2018-10-31|archive-date=2021-11-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107122421/https://upperroombooks.com/mylivingnativity/|url-status=live}}</ref> Its creation<ref name="Matheson2012">{{cite book |last1=Matheson |first1=Lister M. |title=Icons of the Middle Ages: Rulers, Writers, Rebels, and Saints |date=2012 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=978-0-313-34080-2 |page=324 |language=English |quote=He was responsible for staging the first living Nativity scene or creche, in Christian history; and he was also Christianity's first stigmatic. He shares the honor of being patron saint of Italy with Saint Catherine of Siena. His feast day is celbrated on October 4, the day of his death; many churches, including the Anglican, Lutheran, and Episcopal churches, commemorate this with the blessing of the animals.}}</ref> is described by [[Bonaventure|Saint Bonaventure]] in his ''Life of Saint Francis of Assisi'' {{circa|1260}}.<ref>{{cite web|last=St. Bonaventure|title=The Life of St. Francis of Assisi|url=http://www.ecatholic2000.com/bonaventure/assisi/francis.shtml|work=e-Catholic 2000|access-date=28 September 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140614095831/http://www.ecatholic2000.com/bonaventure/assisi/francis.shtml|archive-date=14 June 2014}}</ref>

Saint Francis' manger scene is said to have been enacted at Christmas 1223 in a cave near the [[Sanctuary of Greccio]] in the Central Italy town of [[Greccio]]. The very small chapel where it is said to have taken place survives. The painting over its altar, and others before 1400, by [[Giotto]] at the Assisi Lower Church, and by [[Antonio Vite]] in [[Pistoia]], depict Saint Francis kneeling and placing a small baby into a chest-like manger. Giotto adds a miniature ox and ass.

[[File:Santa Maria Maggiore 24 (cropped).jpg|thumb|Crib set by [[Arnolfo di Cambio]], [[Santa Maria Maggiore]], Rome {{circa|1290}}]]
A substantial set of stone figures by [[Arnolfo di Cambio]], a leading sculptor of the day, was made for [[Santa Maria Maggiore]] in Rome around 1290.  The surviving portion includes figures for the [[Holy Family]], the [[Three Kings]], and the ox and ass from the neck up.  

The scene's popularity inspired much imitation throughout [[Christian countries]], and in the [[early modern period]] sculpted cribs, often exported from Italy, were set up in many Christian churches and homes.<ref name="Orsini2000">{{cite book |last1=Orsini |first1=Joseph E. |title=Italian Family Cooking |date=2000 |publisher=Macmillan |isbn=978-0-312-24225-1 |language=English |quote=In later centuries the Nativity scenes became beautiful works of art in wooden sculptures and ceramic figures. The most remarkable ones were created in southern Italy, especially in Naples, Calabria, and Sicily, Today, in most Christian homes the Presepio, Creche, or Nativity Scene is in a special place of honor reserved for it beneath the Christmas tree. In both Italy and in Italian parishes...the Nativity Scenes is placed, significantly, right in front of the main altar of the church, and Christmas trees adorn the spaces behind or on the side of the altar.}}</ref> These elaborate scenes reached their artistic apogee in the [[Papal State]], in [[Emilia (region of Italy)|Emilia]], in the [[Kingdom of Naples]] and in [[Genoa]]. In the tradition of the [[Moravian Church]], nativity scenes have been the center of the [[Christmas putz]], which is "built to tell the Good News of the coming of the Christ Child" and "is the Gospel in miniature from Isaiah’s prophecy and Mary’s annunciation to the visit of the wisemen and the flight into Egypt."<ref name="Moravian2018">{{cite web |title=The Putz and Illumination |url=https://www.moravian.org/2018/11/the-putz-and-illumination/ |publisher=[[Moravian Church]] |access-date=3 December 2023 |language=English |date=19 November 2018}}</ref><ref name="Hillinger1985">{{cite web |last1=Hillinger |first1=Charles |title=The Star of Bethlehem Is Moravian Church Tradition |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-12-25-vw-21256-story.html |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=3 December 2023 |language=English |date=25 December 1985}}</ref> 
[[File:Nativity (Victor of Crete).png|thumb|right|''[[The Nativity (Victor)|Nativity]]'' of [[Cretan School]] by [[Victor (iconographer)|Victor]] circa 1676]]  

For Moravian Christians, the nativity scene serves to celebrate "the story of the wonder of Christ’s birth so that the Son of God can be welcomed into the hearts of the home at the Christmas."<ref name="Moravian2018"/><ref name="Hillinger1985"/> By the end of the 19th century nativity scenes became widely popular in many Christian denominations, and many versions in various sizes and made of various materials, such as [[terracotta]], paper, wood, wax, and [[ivory]], were marketed, often with a backdrop setting of a stable.<ref name="GBOD2015">{{cite web|url= http://www.gbod.org/resources/introduction-to-christmas-season|title= Introduction to Christmas Season|year= 2013|work= General Board of Discipleship (GBOD)|publisher= The United Methodist Church|access-date= 5 January 2015|quote= Christmas is a season of praise and thanksgiving for the incarnation of God in Jesus Christ, which begins with Christmas Eve (December 24 after sundown) or Day and continues through the Day of Epiphany. The name Christmas  comes from the season's first service, the Christ Mass. Epiphany  comes from the Greek word epiphania, which means "manifestation." New Year's Eve or Day is often celebrated in the United Methodist tradition with a Covenant Renewal Service.  In addition to acts and services of worship for the Christmas Season on the following pages, see The Great Thanksgivings and the scripture readings for the Christmas Season in the lectionary....  Signs of the season include a Chrismon tree, a nativity scene (include the magi on the Day of Epiphany), a Christmas star, angels, poinsettias, and roses.|archive-date= 6 January 2015|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150106002441/http://www.gbod.org/resources/introduction-to-christmas-season|url-status= live}}</ref>

Different traditions of nativity scenes emerged in different countries. Hand-painted ''[[santons]]'' are popular in [[Provence]]. In southern Germany, [[Austria]] and [[Trentino-Alto Adige]], the wooden figurines are handcut. Colorful ''[[szopka|szopki]]'' are typical in [[Poland]].

In the United States, the [[Metropolitan Museum of Art]] in New York City annually displays a Neapolitan Baroque nativity scene before a {{convert|20|ft}} [[blue spruce]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.metmuseum.org/press/news/2015/holiday-programming |title=Met Museum Celebrates Christmas andHanukkah at Main Building and Cloisters &#124; the Metropolitan Museum of Art |date=17 November 2015 |access-date=2016-12-21 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221165921/http://www.metmuseum.org/press/news/2015/holiday-programming |archive-date=2016-12-21 }}</ref>