A History of the Christmas Crib

This book examines the history of the crib from gospel times to today.

The Christmas Crib or Nativity Scene appears in churches every Christmas, but can also been seen in many shops and private houses. This book examines the history of the crib from gospel times to today and is the first full history written on the subject in the UK for nearly 100 years. The book begins with the Gospel narratives and the trail of the original crib or manger of Jesus. It also covers the history of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem and the creation of the feast day of Christmas. It then deals with artistic depictions and church liturgy up to the time of St Francis of Assisi showing how the Christmas scene was imagined. The story of St Francis is fully covered along with the greater importance attached to Christmas following his service at Greccio. The first large nativity groups were set up in churches, and we see how these early cribs developed through to the Reformation. After the Counter Reformation people were encouraged, especially by the Franciscans and Jesuits, to have cribs in their houses. Cribs then developed into many different styles throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. In the twentieth century, crib societies were set up, and home crafting encouraged ‘build your own’ cribs in many forms and using many different materials.