Next year, it will be 800 years (1223-2023) since St Francis decided to create the nativity scene in a cave in the village of Greccio near Rieti.
A great episode that helped spread the Italian nativity scene tradition all over the world.

On 24 December 1223 he met with the poorest farmers and shepherds who lived near the upper parts of Greccio. Saint Francis wanted them to feel Jesus’ love for men when he chose to be born in the Bethlehem cave. He presented a living nativity scene and spoke with great emotion about this mystery. This custom soon began to spread throughout the world. Even if it was not the first time that the nativity scene was created in the Christian world, it was still Saint Francis who aroused everyone’s love for the nativity scene.