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This ancient custom is said to have been created by Saint Francis of Assisi. One Christmas night Saint Francis organized a play about the birth of Jesus using animals and actors from Grecchio, a small Italian town near Assisi. A baby played the part of Jesus and was laid in a straw-filled manger between a mule and a bull. This tradition was taken up by other monks and spread to all the churches. Over time, the actors were replaced by wax or clay figurines. |
