Fortunately, in terms of design, there has been more and more choice in recent years. Besides our well-known modern nativity scene by Floris Hovers, there are more manufacturers offering modern “design” nativity scenes. Finally, a nativity scene that also fits your interior! For instance, Alessi has a beautiful metal nativity scene designed by Michel Boucquillon and Donia Maaoui. Perhaps you yourself know Dick Bruna's funny nativity scene, or the cardboard nativity scene (also to colour in!) by Meli Kuhn for Dutch Design Brand. Also special is Unoferrum's nativity scene where a tea light projects the nativity scene as a shadow play.

Christmas, the nativity scene, a cave and the Bible

Interestingly, the Bible itself does not mention a stable at all. The birth of Jesus is mentioned, of course, in two gospels; Luke and Matthew. In the book of Luke, the manger is mentioned as the cradle for Jesus. So this makes it assumed that the scene took place in a stable. Joseph and the pregnant Mary had travelled to Bethlehem because of a census ordered by the Roman Emperor Augustus.

According to St Justin, a second-century Christian philosopher, Jesus was born in a cave. This “birth cave” in Bethlehem is still an important pilgrimage site for Christians.

Also, the presence of the ox and donkey in the stable do not appear in the original Christmas story. The ox and donkey were later situated in the stable because of the phrase from the Old Testament (Isaiah 1:3) where the prophet Isaiah says: 'An ox knows its owner, a donkey its master's manger; but Israel knows of nothing, my people have no understanding.' According to Origenes (third century AD), the ox and the donkey symbolise all people: the ox (a pure animal in Jewish tradition) symbolises the church of the Jews, the unclean donkey represents the church of the Gentiles.

The shepherds with their sheep does draw on the gospel, as do the “wise men from the east” found in the books Epiphany, Isaiah and Matthew.

 However, the number of wise men is not mentioned in the gospel. The number three may have arisen because three gifts were offered: frankincense, myrrh and gold. Moreover, later people came to see the “three kings” as representatives of three continents: Asia, Africa and Europe. This is why the wise men in pictures are sometimes depicted in different skin colours.

Where does the tradition of the nativity scene actually come from?

The nativity scene was probably introduced in 1223 by St Francis of Assisi, founder of the Order of the Franciscans. He received permission from Pope Honorius to present the Christmas scene with living persons. In the forest near Greccio, he built a stall where Holy Mass was celebrated on Christmas Eve. The Franciscans subsequently spread the concept of the nativity scene widely.

Especially in Italy, the nativity scene, the “presepe” is still very popular. At the annual Christmas market in Rome's Piazza Navona, nativity scenes and figures of all shapes and sizes are available. On the initiative of Pope John Paul II, a life-size nativity scene has been set up in St Peter's Square every year since 1982.

How to set up a nativity scene?

Do you want to get started with the nativity scene now? The IKONIC nativity scene is one of the few modern-abstract nativity scenes that does fit into your modern interior. It is made of FSC beech wood and the lacquer finish is super nice. Remove the nativity scene from its packaging (keep the sleeve) and put it in a place where it will look good.

If you really want to do it right, do not place the baby in the manger until Christmas night, the wise men should be moved a bit towards the manger every day.

Super practical: afterwards, you can put everything neatly back in the stable which is immediately the storage box, to put it down again next year!