Christmas Crib

THE CHRISTMAS CRIB ( PRESEPIO)

In the Gospels of Saint Luke and saint Matthew we read about the manger, the shepherds and the three Wise Men. They give us an opportunity to imagine what it was like the day when Christ was born. This scene has been recreated by many sculptors and painters, but no one is sure who was the first to recreate this image.
The tradition of crib making dates back to at least 400 AD when Pope Sixtus III had one built in Rome but the Nativity scene became popular after Saint Francis of Assisi put up the first manger in Greccio in 1223: his nativity was a living one with humans and animals. Since then Nativity scenes have been put together in different forms and combinations of live and crafted figures. Sometimes mechanized cribs are created , landscapes with movable parts and characters. In Italy the Nativity is called “presepe” or “presepio”, it can be found in every church, shop, square and other public areas and it usually includes representation of the whole village. Presepio is set up on 8 December, through 6 January.
Many people set up a crib in their houses and figures for the nativity are made in many parts of Italy, the best ones coming from Naples and Sicily.

Nativity - Saint Francis Church -  Macerata

BEST PLACES TO SEE PRESEPI IN ITALY
Naples is the best city to visit for its presepi. Hundreds of nativity scenes are set up throughout the city. Some cribs are very elaborate and may be handmade or use antique figures. Starting December 8, the Church of Gesù Nuovo, in Piazza del Gesu', shows nativity scene art work from the Neapolitan Nativity Scenes Association. The street Via San Giorgio Armeno in central Naples is full of stalls selling Nativity scenes all year.
Vatican City put up a big presepe in St. Peter's Square for Christmas and is usually unveiled on Christmas Eve. A Christmas Eve mass is held in St. Peter's square, usually at 10 pm.
In Rome some of the biggest and most elaborate presepi are found in Piazza del Popolo, Piazza Euclide, Santa Maria in Trastevere, and Santa Maria d'Aracoeli, on the Capitoline Hill. A life-size nativity scene is set up in Piazza Navona where a Christmas marketplace is also set up.
Il Museo tipologico del Presepio in Macerata in the Marche region has more than 4000 nativity pieces an d a 17th century presepe from Naples.

Living nativity scenes, presepi viventi, are found in many parts of Italy with people playing the parts of the nativity. Often living nativity scenes are presented for many days, usually Christmas Day and December 26, and sometimes again the following weekend around the time of Epiphany, January 6, the 12th day of Christmas when the three Wise Men gave Baby Jesus their gifts.