Historic Italian village credited for first-of-its-kind Christmas Nativity scene draws crowds for 800 years
This small village has a wealthy spiritual historical past, being credited with beginning the custom of stay Nativity scenes.
Located within the Lazio area of Italy, the city of Greccio is the place Saint Francis of Assisi first began the spiritual customized.
Saint Francis visited Greccio after his journey to Palestine and wished to depict the Nativity in a cave, asking for a manger to be constructed with an ox and a donkey, in keeping with an area vacationer affiliation, the Pro Loco Greccio’s website.
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“Legend has it that during the Holy Mass, the infant boy made a miraculous appearance, and the saint took him in his arms,” the positioning reads.
Each 12 months, Greccio, Italy, reenacts a dwelling Nativity scene paying homage to Saint Francis of Assisi. (Paolo Tosti/AFP by way of Getty Images)
“It was the night of 24 December 1223, a date that marked the birth of the first living nativity scene in history and triggered a tradition that has continued to this day in various places throughout Italy,” the positioning says.
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Greccio has been dubbed the “Franciscan Bethlehem” amongst worshipers far and vast.
Saint Francis visited Greccio after his journey to Palestine and wished to depict the Nativity in a collapse 1223. (DeAgostini/Getty Images)
Each 12 months, Greccio celebrates the vacation season by reenacting the start of the Savior on Christmas Eve, repeating the Nativity till the tip of Christmas festivities in January.
Greccio is situated roughly 60 miles exterior Rome.
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The reenactment has six actors in tableaux carrying hand-sewn interval garments whereas reciting texts on the life and sermons of Saint Francis of Assisi, in keeping with Pro Loco Greccio.
A Nativity scene in Bethlehem, Pa., which has reportedly been dubbed “Christmas City, USA.” (AP Photo/Luis Andres Henao)
The Rev. Patrick Briscoe, a Catholic priest primarily based in Washington, D.C., advised Fox News Digital that final 12 months marked the 800th anniversary of the primary Nativity scene by Saint Francis.
“Francis’ genius lay in the fact that he knew that depictions of the Nativity allow Christians everywhere to embrace the solemn mystery of Christmas,” mentioned Briscoe.
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Briscoe mentioned that seeing figures helps believers extra simply “contemplate the glory of that first Christmas.”
“Nativity scenes should draw our hearts and minds to the Holy Land, where Jesus Christ was born, and inspire our prayers for peace,” mentioned Briscoe. (Davide Pischettola/NurPhoto by way of Getty Images)
“Setting up a Nativity scene in your home allows your home to become another Bethlehem, a place to welcome Christ at Christmas,” he added.
“Nativity scenes should draw our hearts and minds to the Holy Land, where Jesus Christ was born, and inspire our prayers for peace,” mentioned Briscoe.
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Fox News Digital reached out to Pro Loco Greccio for remark.
