The Nativity is a tradition widespread in Italy and, together with the Christmas tree, enriches our homes during the holidays.
According to the available evidence, the first representations of the Crib date back to the Roman era, when the faithful of Christianity painted the nativity inside the catacombs.
History of the tradition of the Nativity
As we have said, the first representations of the Crib in a very similar way to how we know it today go back to ancient Rome and Christianity and we find evidence of it also within the gospels of Luke and Matthew.
However, even before it was Francis of Assisi who, in 1223, made a representation of the Nativity in Greccio, in Lazio thanks to the authorization of Pope Onofrio III.
The Greccio Nativity has a great importance for the Christian community and for art historians, as can be seen from the statements of Rosa Giorgi, art historian and director of the Cappuccini Museum in Milan:
«Saint Francis did not make the Nativity scene: he lived the Nativity scene. […] It is important to start from Greccio, from the authentic meaning of that representation wanted by Francis in Christmas 1223, which has marked deeply the path of art, as the popular piety and devotion that are manifested in our “make the Nativity”, but without forgetting the long way that had already been traveled before Greccio».
Saint Francis did not just create a representation of the nativity, but gathered all the inhabitants around him to tell them the story of the birth of Jesus.
In the days of San Francesco the Nativity was much simpler and the characters were limited to the ox and the donkey.
Only towards the end of 1200 and thanks to the sculptor Arnolfo di Cambio, was created a first Crib with all the traditional characters we know today: it is the oldest Crib in the world that is kept in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, in Rome.
The evolution of the Nativity scene
Born in the times of ancient Rome, the crib has undergone some significant changes over time.
If, at the beginning, it was a simple representation of the nativity, already around 1700 is enriched with characters even common, especially thanks to some Neapolitan artists who, with their statuettes, give rise to a tradition that will become popular.
In fact, today, it is enough to visit the city of Naples and its famous Via San Gregorio Armeno to admire the creativity of these artists and many statuettes that also represent current characters.
The great spread of the Nativity begins even later, starting from 1800, when it becomes a real tradition of Christmas.
The Nativity scene and its symbols
Already present in the first performance of Francis of Assisi, the ox and the donkey are the oldest elements of the Nativity scene representing respectively the Jewish and the pagan people.
Later it was the turn of the Magi who, symbolically, represent the populations of the world known at the time that is Europe, Asia and Africa while, the gifts they bring with them, have other meanings.
The myrrh is linked to the human nature of Jesus, the incense to his divine nature and gold is the gift reserved for kings.
The Nativity scene today in Italy
Today the Nativity still belongs to the traditions of the Italians who, every year, adorn their home with scenes representing the nativity, enriched with new characters and details such as streams, lights and moving statues.
In addition to the cribs, you can admire the nativity also outdoors, in populated areas or in Christmas events, a source of attraction for many tourists as well as the inhabitants.
In addition, among the great Italian traditions for holidays, there is also that of the living Nativity, now widespread in many villages and cities from north to south.
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