Introduction

The medieval name Praesepe became Crib in England, Crèche in France, Krippe in Germany, Presepio in Italy, Belem in Portugal, Nacimento in Spain and Szopka in Poland. In some English-speaking areas they are known as Nativities or Nativity Scenes.

A Christmas Crib may be very simple with all attention focused on the central figures; or it may be very elaborate, and that too is justified because people throughout the world gather around the manger at Christmas time.

When one views a typical Nativity scene, or crèche, it's apparent that it can often be the culmination of three different art forms.

First, you have the characters. These can be carved from wood, formed from wax, papier-mache, resin, or clay, or even hand-painted on cardboard.

Next, you have the buildings. These range from Alpine stables and guest houses to romantic Roman ruins. Others have Oriental-style structures with minarets and domes. Other buildings include the shops that would be found in the village along with huts and tents for the shepherds in the fields.

The third art form found in many crèches is a painted background. Indeed, some European artists have achieved fame in painting these scenes. Some depict pastoral hillsides, while others are a continuation of the buildings in an imagined city of Bethlehem. This art form is relatively new in the United States and backgrounds are now available through several sources.

Over the centuries, various elements of the creche have taken on symbolic meanings. For example, the star which guides the Three Kings symbolizes the presence of God. On the other hand, some creche collectors leave out the star and replace it with angels in the role of guides to mankind.

The Three Kings represent the homage due the divinity of Jesus by the powers of the world. They equally remind us of the known world, Europe, Africa and Asia, during the period when Christ was born. They also represent the three ages of life. The youngest, Gaspar, offers frankincense symbolizing purity; Balthazar, the mature man, offers gold which symbolizes power and wealth; the old man, Melchior, offers myrrh used for funerals. Their gifts also testify that Christ is at the same time God (frankincense), king (gold), and man destined for death (myrrh).

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