Despite a decline in religious beliefs in France, and particularly in Catholicism, the craze for nativity scenes remains virtually unabated. Over and above the political debate about whether or not nativity scenes should be installed in public places, they are very much in evidence in the homes of all French people, and not just religious believers. While not necessarily religiously attached to their Christmas cribs, some believe that they represent tradition, the festive spirit of the Christmas tree, or a certain cultural attachment. What does the nativity scene symbolize for each and every one of us? Has it become more festive than religious? We set out to find out.

The origins of the Christmas crib

To understand the precise origins of the Christmas crib, we first need to know the meaning of the word, which comes from the Latin cripia, meaning “manger for animals”. In the Bible, it therefore refers to the place where Jesus was born.

From the 6th century onwards, Christians began to celebrate the birth of their Saviour, Jesus. To honor him, they decided to represent him in the form of a statute accompanied by the Virgin Mary, Joseph, the donkey and the ox. According to legend, the first living crib was invented by Francis of Assisi near Rome in the 13th century. The figures in the crib were embodied by the inhabitants of the surrounding villages. The custom then spread to northern Italy and Provence.

It was only much later, three centuries after the invention of the living nativity scene, that miniature nativity scenes began to appear. They can be seen, for example, in churches in Prague under the Jesuit order. Finally, at the end of the XIXᵉ century, santons de Provence appeared. These clay figurines represent all the characters in the crib, from those of the Nativity to all the trades of the time and animals.

During the French Revolution, nativity scenes were banned in towns and cities, and it was then that private individuals began to install them in the privacy of their own homes. At that time, santons were very much in evidence in the home, and for many people, they represented a testimony to their Christianity, or even a form of resistance in the face of prohibitions.

The Christmas crib today

While nativity scenes are still very much a part of our homes at Christmas time, their meaning is, for many, no longer quite the same. We could even go so far as to say that cribs are no longer necessarily religious. Democratized over the years, the meaning of its installation has changed. This change in consideration of the crib is illustrated by the debates that can arise in the public arena. Every year, the question of whether or not a crèche can be installed in a town hall or regional building is debated. However, the 1905 law on secularism should exclude it from this debate. The fact that the subject exists at all demonstrates that the religious dimension of the crèche is no longer so obvious.

While for many believers, the crib remains a strong religious symbol, for many non-believers or non-practitioners, making a crib is more a cultural practice than a religious one. It's also common to see it, like the Christmas tree, as a decorative object that adds an extra touch to the festive atmosphere. Indeed, in some families, the nativity scene is handed down from generation to generation. As a matter of tradition, some families continue to put it up every year, without making it an object of piety. Whether as a cultural or religious practice, the nativity scene has a different interpretation for each person, but it retains one of its primary vocations: to bring people together and fill them with wonder.

A simple Christmas decoration for some, a symbol of their faith for others, the crib has definitely conquered our homes, and this tradition is not about to disappear.