The tradition of displaying a crèche at Christmas dates back to 1223 in Greccio, Italy. St. Francis of Assisi, wanting to refocus people on the worship of Christ instead of focusing on gifts giving and material things, staged a live nativity scene in a cave featuring both people and animals. Pope Honorius III learned of the scene and gave his blessing. As word of what St. Francis had done spread, nativity scenes began to be featured throughout Christian countries. Within 100 years, every church in Italy was expected to have a nativity scene.
Eventually, statues replaced the human and animal participants, and the scenes became increasingly elaborate. By the end of the 19th century, nativity scenes had even become popular outside of Catholic settings.
Living nativity scenes also have become an annual tradition. During the Middle Ages, they took the form of miracle plays depicting the Nativity story. However, due to abuses and exaggerations in the performances, the Church banned the performance of these plays in the fifteenth century. However, their performance survived outside of church walls. German immigrants brought simple versions of these plays to America. These plays have become part of both Catholic and Protestant Christmas services, often with children playing the parts. In some countries, Mary and Joseph travel throughout the town, going door to door asking for shelter and ending at the staged nativity scene.
The animals used in a crèche have traditionally been a donkey and an ox. This is an illusion to Isaiah 1:3 – “An ox knows its owner, and an ass, its master’s manger; But Israel does not know, my people has not understood.” The ox is said to represent patience, the nation of Israel and Old Testament sacrificial worship while the donkey represents humility, readiness to serves, and the Gentiles.