How Francis invented the nativity scene: a Christmas dream in Greccio!

How Francis invented the nativity scene: a Christmas dream in Greccio!

In the picturesque community of Greccio, about 90 kilometers north of Rome, an important event for the Christmas story occurred in 1223. Here St. Francis carried out the first nativity play in history to present the birth of Jesus more alive. This traditionally deeply rooted performance has been held up to the present day and is listed in numerous kindergartens, schools and communities worldwide. As the Stuttgart messages reported, Francis had the Christmas story staged in the form of a living crib at his appearance in Greccio, which should be the memory of the birth of Christ in a particularly tangible way.

Franziskus was not only interested in the performance, but also wanted to create a joint celebration that should strengthen the faith of people. According to the chronicle of Thomas von Celano, the first historian who documented the Christmas party in Greccio, Franziskus called for friends and relatives from the area to take part in this special celebration. The enthusiasm was great and the people flocked together to celebrate this significant night. The nativity scene was illuminated by many with candles and torches, which made Greccio more and more a new Bethlehem, just as the historicality in the recordings of history is briefly recorded.

The vision of faith

On Christmas Eve, Francis also came to the place where the crib was built. The participating people felt great joy, and the singing filled the forest. In addition to the marquee, an altar was also created where a fair was celebrated. At this celebration, Johannes von Greccio joined a profound vision in which he saw a lifeless figure in the crib, which was awakened by St. Francis. This vision symbolized the lost faith in the Son of God, which Francis wanted to bring back into consciousness, especially at a time when many people had rejected faith. The Christmas party of Greccio was therefore not only to revive a tradition, but also to the medium of a spiritual renewal, which still has an impact.

Franziskus was able to set a strong sign with his crib celebration and the associated staging. The lights of hope and the community illuminated the hearts of people and gave the belief in the importance of God a new perspective. The origins of today's nativity plays are firmly associated with this memorable event, which has steadily developed over the centuries. The influence of Francis on the Christmas parties and the tradition of the nativity play to the present is undeniable and is still valued. Further details can be found in the sources of history in Kurz and the Stuttgart news.

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