Family traditions run deep at Christmas time. One tradition observed in homes all around the world is that of setting up the creche in its place of honor- on the mantle, the Christmas tree skirt, or the coffee table – as a visual reminder of the true meaning of this joyous holiday.
Children stare in awe at the figures and desperately try to keep from playing with them, quite a feat for many curious fingers. As mothers and fathers dash through the living room in the chaos of preparing for the big day, the creche catches their eye; and they stop for a moment to whisper a prayer. The creche becomes a powerful, though silent, symbol of the greatest love of all time.
St. Francis of Assisi
The symbolizes a tradition that dates back to 1223 to the small village of Greccio, Italy. One night not long before Christmas, St. Francis of Assisi and his followers were traveling through the countryside on their way to GRECCIO. St. Francis had been pondering a way to bring the message of Christ’s birth to everyone in a special, symbolic way. As St. Francis traveled the lonely, country road, he saw shepherds resting in a nearby field. The sight reminded him of the shepherds to whom the angel had appeared that night long ago with good tidings of great joy. It spurred his imagination; and on Christmas Eve, he gave a special gift to the people of Greccio: he recreated the holy scene of the nativity right before their eyes, complete with a manger, donkey, Mary and Joseph and the baby Jesus.
Soon word spread of that special night in Greccio, and other towns began creating their own creche scenes. By the eighteenth century, the creches, called Presepe di Natale in Italy, had become an established and respected art form in Naples. Artists combined their talents of sculpture, painting, and scenic design to produce elaborate scenes with intricate details such as authentic clothes of the Neapolitan period, tiny baskets of wax fruit, and even bejeweled magi. Members of the upper classes began setting up creches in their own homes and establishing lasting family traditions.
One notable Baroque Neopolitan creche was that of King Charles of Naples – his creche numbered almost 6,000 pieces.
Notable creche exhibits in the United States include The Adoration of Angles at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which features angels sweeping down a tree to hover over the Holy Family. The creche figures were donated by Lynn Hines Howard, who spent more than thirty years collecting the pieces. The Boston Museum of Fine Arts features a beautiful ceramic creche made by an eighteenth century Venetian sculptor as well as a fifteenth – century glazed terracotta creche by Luca della Robbia.
Just as the people of Greccio journeyed to see the first creche from St. Francis, so do the people of America today journey to see special creche exhibits across the country.
The gift of the creche from St. Francis has brought joy and understanding to millions of people around the world ever since he first created it that enchanted evening in Greccio, Italy. It has more than fulfilled his desire to convey the message of the Christmas story in a special symbolic way. Creche collectors may delight in the tiny details or artistic flair of their creche pieces, but more important is the contemplative, prayerful attitude and feelings that the miniature displays invoke. Perhaps this year we should forgo the tissue, boxes, and packing crates and leave the creche standing in its place of honor throughout the year as a symbol of the meaning of Christmas in our daily lives.
