To celebrate the joyful mystery of the Nativity, 2000 years on, we have chosen to travel to Assisi, because it provides the opportunity to get away from it all. There is undoubtedly a spirit of festivity within the walls of this small city (which is twinned with Bethlehem), but perhaps more importantly, there is a very prevalent feeling wherever you go of the Christian meaning of Christmas. Cribs (Presepi) abound, some simple, others works of art and some sheer technical wonders. Of course, it is no coincidence that we see them here in Assisi as we have probably never seen them before, because it is to St Francis of Assisi that we have to be grateful for presenting this human image of the Nativity in the first place. St Francis was overwhelmed by the very real beginning of Christ, and at a time when heresy and superstition were rife, he desired to bring people back to the essential truths concerning Jesus. And what more direct and relevant way of doing this, than using real life animals and people as an illustration! So on Boxing Day we journey to Greccio, to the village which held a dear place in St Francis’ affections, and where he said that he had seldom seen such great faith. People still flock here to see the Saint’s legacy in the grand exhibition of cribs, large and small, and weather permitting, the live tableau in the woods reliving how that first nativity scene on Christmas Eve 1223 came about. We spend the night near to Greccio, so that we can make sure of seeing the tableau if weather conditions allow it to be performed.