E2BN Gallery

The first representation of the Nativity was in Italy when St. Francis of Assisi and his followers acted out the scene in 1223 to remind the local population that Jesus was born for them and that he was not rich but born into a poor family like theirs. St. Francis told the part of each character in the story himself using wooden figures. After a couple of years, the play became so popular that real people played the parts of the characters in the story. Songs were sung by the people taking part, these became known as carols. Pictured at St Paul's church, Bedford.