The Nativity Scene: History, Meaning, and Curiosities of the Characters

The nativity scene is not only one of the most beloved Christmas traditions: it is a story engraved in the collective memory, a symbol of faith and hope that spans the centuries and unites families, communities, and cultures.
On the journey towards Jubilee 2025 , rediscovering the value of the nativity scene means returning to the roots of a universal message: God who becomes man to dwell among us.

The origins of the nativity scene

The word presepe derives from the Latin praesaepe, “manger”, the humble place where Jesus was born.
Tradition holds that the first living nativity scene was created by Saint Francis of Assisi on Christmas night in 1223, in Greccio, in the heart of the Rieti Valley. It was not a simple stage performance, but an act of faith, born from the desire to relive the emotion and reality of Christ's birth.
From that moment on, the nativity scene began to spread throughout Europe: first in churches and convents, then in homes. The first nativity scene with fixed statues is attributed to Arnolfo di Cambio (1283), in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome.
Since then, every era and region has reinterpreted the nativity scene according to its own culture and sensibility: from Neapolitan Baroque to the wooden nativity scenes of the Dolomites, up to today's modern and minimalist versions.

The characters of the nativity scene and their meaning

Behind each figurine lies a symbolic message, which tells part of the mystery of Christmas.

The Holy Family : At the centre of the scene, Mary, Joseph and the Baby Jesus represent the tenderness and simplicity with which God enters human history.
Mary, dressed in blue, embodies purity and faith; Joseph, with his staff, protection and obedience; the Child in the manger is the Light that illuminates the world.
Their presence invites us to rediscover the strength of family, humility, and trust.
Angels: Placed high above, often holding a scroll bearing good news, angels are messengers of hope.
They recall the announcement to the shepherds and invite us too, today, to become bearers of peace in our time.
The Three Wise Men: Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar represent the search for the divine.
Guided by a star, they travel a long journey to worship Jesus and offer gold, frankincense, and myrrh, symbols of royalty, divinity, and humanity.
In the context of the Jubilee, the Magi remind us that faith is a journey: a pilgrimage towards the Light.
The Shepherds and the Animals : The shepherds are the first to receive the message: poor, simple, authentic. Their arrival at the cave is an invitation to welcome and be grateful for what we possess.
The ox and the donkey, present in almost all nativity scenes, represent nature participating in the joy of birth and the presence of God in every creature.
Folk Characters: In many Italian regions, alongside biblical protagonists, popular figures appear: the "sleeping shepherd" in the Neapolitan nativity scene, "Gelindo" in the Piedmontese one, or the "caganer" in Catalonia. These characters recount the daily lives, work, and simple faith of those who experience the mystery of the Nativity with wonder and humility.

Today, alongside traditional characters, the nativity scene can also welcome witnesses of contemporary faith, such as Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati —two young men who, each in their own time, embodied the spirit of the Gospel with enthusiasm and authenticity.

Including their statues in the nativity scene means giving continuity to a story of faith that has never stopped, an ideal bridge between Bethlehem and our present.
On our website, statues by Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati are available, made in two versions (13 cm and 30 cm), ideal for enriching your Christmas representation with a sign of inspiration and living testimony.
Thus, alongside the shepherds and the Three Kings, the saints of our time also find a place before the grotto, reminding us that holiness is not distant, but is born in everyday life.

The Nativity Scene Today: A Living Tradition and a Sign of Hope

In an increasingly fast-paced and digital world, the nativity scene retains its symbolic power: it reminds us of the value of waiting, silence, and simplicity.
Setting it up at home or in the community is a gesture that unites, that educates about the sense of the sacred and that invites us to look beyond Christmas, towards a deeper spiritual journey.
For this reason, in the Jubilee 2025 , the nativity scene takes on a special meaning: it is the place where faith meets everyday life, where every visitor can rediscover the joy of being born again, as an individual and as part of a community.