Posted by bill on December 10, 1998 at 21:58:01:
st. francis made the first manger scene, called a creche, and put jesus in it to be seen by little poor children and their families who were too far away from church to hear about him in scripture readings. ofcourse jesus wasn't italian. but i think francis must have known that. the baby was probably some old doll or maybe made out of grass. just food for thought.