Continuing on from our previous article, here are the rest of the things you should know about Christmas in Italy.
3. The Original Live Crib Is In Greccio
Nativity scenes and, particularly, those featuring actors and live animals, have a long tradition and are said to have been created in Italy. As a result, there are many live Nativities all over the country that are rather famous. One of the most famous, arguably is the one at
Greccio in Lazio, which is said to be the very first. To visit this charming event for yourself, just find a
vacation rental in Lazio. It is said that the tradition was born as early as the 5th century but gained traction when
St. Francis came back from visiting the Holy Land and wanted to reproduce the scene of the Nativity on Christmas Eve in Greccio. He prepared a manger with hay, had an ox and a donkey brought there, and then had a Holy Mass celebrated in front of it, before a large crowd of people who had come from all over the region, it is even said that a vision of the Child appeared on the hay.