crèches (visual works)
- Scope note
- Refers to a representation of the events surrounding the birth of Christ. It is typically characterized by being three-dimensional and including the infant Jesus in the manger, the Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph, sheep, the ox and ass, and other attending figures, such as shepherds, magi, and angels. The term "crèche" derives from the animals' manger in which, according to some translations of the Gospel of Saint Luke, the Virgin placed the newborn Jesus. According to legend, Saint Francis of Assisi popularized the Christmas crèche in 1223 at Greccio, Italy, when he is said to have celebrated Midnight Mass in a stable where men and animals re-enacted the Nativity.
- Date of creation: 09-Dec-2024
Accepted term: 09-Dec-2024