Nativity Scenes: History

This post is about non-animate nativity sets (crèches), not live nativity events.

The first carved nativity set is credited to Arnolfo di Cambio, who lived in the late 1200s. It was carved from marble and includes Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, an ox, a donkey, and three magi/kings. 

Carved or cast representations of Christ’s birth were popular among Christians and an overall history of the use of nativity sets is hard to find on the free internet. 

It appears that private, or at-home, nativity sets gained momentum in Italy and from there, spread to other countries. Italy is still famous for its presepi (nativity sets).