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You might not realize it, but Nativity Scenes (or Crèches or Mangers as they are also known), have been around for a very long time going back several centuries even before Christmas Trees were introduced.

The tradition of sculpting nativity scenes for churches goes back to13th-century Italy and was popularized by St. Francis of Assisi when in 1223 helped by a local craftsman, he prepared a straw-filled manger complete with animals, in a natural cave in the town of Greccio, Italy, and celebrated the Christmas Eve mass there. Originally life size, Nativity Scenes are now much smaller and are traditionally placed under the Christmas tree.

There is a wide selection of Nativity scenes available today and there is something to suit all budgets, in all sizes and made out of all sorts of materials. The most special must surely be a Nativity Scene handcrafted in the Holy Land from the beautiful wood of Olive Trees grown in the mountains around the hills around Bethlehem and Jerusalem. Since the olive tree is a protected species in Israel it is not permitted to cut them down, and only the prunings of these trees can be used making it even more rare.

An olive wood nativity makes a perfect heirloom that can be used as a Christmas centerpiece year after year. They are imbued with spirituality and require very little care since the olive oil still present in the wood protects it from corrosion and changes of color. Craftsmen who have learnt the skill of carving from their ancestors lovingly carve each olive wood nativity scene, and no two will ever be exactly the same.

A nativity scene usually includes Joseph, Mary and Baby Jesus as well as a Shepherd, sheep and the Three Wise Men or the Magi as they are also know, as well as the Star of Bethlehem. In the more expensive models, these figures are removable allowing you to set up the Nativity scene as you wish. You can also buy inexpensive miniature nativity scenes that can be hung from your Christmas tree, but these are usually much simpler with just the Holy Family and the Star of Bethlehem.

Now is the perfect time to start a collection of Nativity Scenes and figurines, as there is such a wide selection available both online and in your local mall. Or go one step further and construct your own Nativity Scene - there are plenty of sites on the Internet that will show you how to do this. It can be a delightful way to spend an afternoon with your children teaching them the true meaning of Christmas.

It doesn’t matter if your Nativity Scene is store bought or homemade, it will be a great reminder of the origins of Christmas. It doesn’t matter if your family is particularly religious. By emphasizing traditions like this, you can give your children lots of happy memories of the holiday season, which will remain with them forever.