St. Francis of Assisi brought the tradition of the nativity scene or crib to Italy after returning from Palestine, wanting to share the spirit of Jesus's birth. Originally composed of cardboard figures including only a plaster baby Jesus, the crib was typically placed in a corner of the kitchen on moss. Today's cribs include many figures, notably Gelindo the shepherd carrying a sheep on his shoulders. According to tradition, Gelindo was a shepherd from Monferrato who helped Joseph and Mary in the Holy Land, and was the first to visit the manger after Jesus's birth. The nativity scene remains a popular tradition in many Italian homes each Christmas.

1. The crib: story of an old shepherd!
The spread of the crib is due to St. Francis of Assisi who, returning from
Palestine, wanted to bring
the spirit of the birth of Jesus
to his homeland. Francis was
struck by the description of
the Nativity told in the
proto-gospel of James: in
that moment everything
seems to stop, people, things
, gestures… everything is
slowed down, suspended,
crystallized. It is no
coincidence that the crib is
static. Initially composed of cardboard figurines among which the figure of
the Child Jesus stood out, the only one in plaster, the nativity scene was
usually placed in a raised corner of the kitchen on a carpet of green moss.
Today it consists of numerous pieces, among them we cannot forget Gelindo,
the shepherd who carries the sheep on his shoulders. But why is this figure
inevitable in the cribs of many Italian regions? Here too we get lost in
traditions. It seems that the origin is Piedmontese and then extended to
Liguria, Lombardy, Veneto, Tuscany and Sicily. So who was Gelindo? The
story tells us of a shepherd, a simple and stubborn man, who left Monferrato
for the Holy Land. Here he met Joseph and Mary and helped them find shelter
in the hut. Traditionally dressed in shirt and knee-length trousers, he carries
the sheep on his shoulders and the inevitable bagpipe. It is also said that the
ox was a gift from Gelindo and when the Child Jesus was born, Gelindo was
the first to rush to the hut. Today the nativity scenes are mostly made with
plastic statuettes, those who still own the ancient plaster representations
have a precious treasure in their hands. Pre-packaged or all to be built,
perhaps with pieces of cork, the nativity scene continues to live in the many
Italian homes. Students
Nathalie & Elisa