In 1223, St. Francis of Assisi decided to celebrate the birth of Jesus in a new way by recreating the Nativity in the Italian town of Greccio. According to his biographer, Thomas de Celano, Francis assembled what is considered the first crèche, saying, “Out of Greccio is made a new Bethlehem.”

To mark this major octocentennial anniversary, the Knights of Columbus is presenting its annual crèche show in the Blessed Michael McGivney Pilgrimage Center, formerly their museum, as a twofold exhibit in its four galleries: “Christmas in the Americas” and “Celebrating 800 Years of the Crèche.”