St. Francis of Assisi made the first manger scene on Christmas Eve in 1224 outside his church in Italy . He used real people and animals to recreate the scene. This idea soon spread. Some countries use wood carvings for the manger scene. Families in France set the creche on the fireplace or on a table. The child Jesus is not added to the manger until Christmas Eve. The Wise Men are added on January 6th, the day of the Epiphany (also called the Festival of the Kings) .
Christmas Traditions 
