| Nativity scenes are very popular additions to any | | | | Christmas midnight mass and outdoor nativity scenes |
| household in the advent season. They depict the birth | | | | were banned. This forced people to set up |
| of Jesus. Christian nativity scenes normally show | | | | crèches in their own homes. The displays became |
| Jesus in a manger, Joseph and Mary in a barn, stable, | | | | more elaborate over time with the whole Provencal |
| or shed. A mule and an ox usually accompany them. | | | | village being recreated. Typical characters of |
| The scene also includes the three wise men, | | | | day-to-day life: the fishmonger, baker, flower peddler, |
| shepherds, angels and the Star of Bethlehem. The | | | | vegetable merchant, the mayor, priest, nun, midwife |
| traditional scenes that show the shepherds and three | | | | with her cradle, the fisherman with his nets and the |
| wise men together are not true to the story as told in | | | | shepherd with his cape and walking cane are depicted. |
| the bible. In the bible the three wise men arrived after | | | | The scenery is often developed to include trees, rivers, |
| the birth of Jesus. | | | | hills, the entire whole village scene with the focal point |
| Nativity scenes are displayed in homes, churches and | | | | being the nativity crèche. |
| village greens throughout the advent season. Large | | | | Advent festivities in Italy include bagpipers or |
| nativity scenes with live animals and people are | | | | zampognari who play old hill tunes in anticipation of the |
| created for advent nativity celebrations. Nativity | | | | coming of Jesus. These bagpipers are popular in Italian |
| scenes are called creche's in European countries. | | | | nativity scenes. The Italians traditionally view the many |
| St. Francis of Assisi is credited with making the nativity | | | | elaborate manger scenes on Christmas Eve. Artisans |
| tradition popular. In a Christmas Eve service in 1223, he | | | | create detailed landscapes around the manger scenes: |
| staged a simple reenactment of Jesus' birth, focusing | | | | small trees, lakes, rivers, grottoes, hanging angels and |
| on the manger. He made the nativity come alive. The | | | | local heroes. The most elaborate and beautiful nativity |
| idea caught on and manger scenes became more | | | | scenes are set up in Churches. |
| elaborate and took on more cultural characteristics | | | | Nativity scenes are common in Christian homes today, |
| from Italy to France, Germany and Spain. Today, | | | | often displayed on mantles or underneath the |
| almost every culture in the world has their unique | | | | Christmas tree. Advent wreaths, advent calendars and |
| representation of the nativity scene. | | | | Christmas wreaths are also popular for advent |
| A typical French Noel crèche consists of figures | | | | celebrations. |
| called Santons. These figures originally made of wood, | | | | Lynn Jebbia is the owner of Acadia Wreath Company. |
| wax or clay come in their work clothes to visit the | | | | Acadia Wreath Company, based in Bar Harbor, Maine, |
| Holy Family. They bring the Christ Child presents they | | | | handcrafts fresh Maine balsam fir Christmas wreaths, |
| have made or grown, hunted or sold. They perform or | | | | Christmas Centerpieces and Kissing Balls which are |
| offer simple gestures of thoughtfulness. They were a | | | | shipped directly to customers and corporate clients |
| way of bringing religion home after the French | | | | throughout the United States. |
| Revolution. Churches were being sacked and closed. | | | | |