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Historic Italian Village Credited with First-of-Its-Kind Christmas Nativity Scene Draws Crowds for 800 Years
The picturesque town of Greccio, Italy, is being recognized as the birthplace of the first-ever living Nativity scene in history. The site has been reenacting a faithful depiction of Jesus’ birth every year since 1223.
According to records, Saint Francis of Assisi was inspired by his journey to Palestine and wanted to recreate the sacred scene in a cave at Greccio. This year marked the 800th anniversary of this historic event.
Greccio has been dubbed the ” Franciscan Bethlehem” by worshippers around the world, as it is said that Saint Francis took an infant boy and wrapped him in swaddling clothes to represent Jesus Christ.
Source: www.foxnews.com
