The Friends of the Creche began as a movement in parts of Europe during the early years of the 20th Century as people became aware of the breaking apart and selling of large collections of nativity figures and of others being left to simply deteriorate or be discarded, while at the same time discovering those that had been hidden away since the days of the Protestant Reformation.
While this movement was interrupted by two world wars, it continued to grow and expand until now there are nineteen national organizations of the Friends of the Creche spread across the world. The Americans formed an organization ten years ago, and Brazil joined the group in 2008.
Christians for centuries have come to the stable. From the third century forward, the birth of Jesus has been celebrated in Bethlehem. Carvings on sarcophagi and paintings on the walls of the catacombs in Rome have depicted nativity scenes as far back as the second century. Boards said to have been from the manger appeared in the in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome in the seventh century. Morality plays assisted the faithful in understanding the mystery of the Saviour’s birth in medieval times and St. Francis of Assisi is credited with embellishing the devotion by adding live animals. People of different cultures added new dimensions to the creche scene as the tradition spread across Europe, into Asia and eventually to the Americas by early explorers and French, Spanish and English missionaries. The unifying theme, no matter where the nativity scene was made, materials used in its creation or the particular persons or animals depicted is that the Christ Child is at the centre as God is always present in our midst.
While the creche may have been introduced into Canada at an earlier date by early explorers and the priests who accompanied them on their voyages, there is a ship record of creche figures being brought into Canada in the early 17th century. We know that by that time Ursuline nuns in Quebec were creating them out of wax, while Father Jean de Brebeuf introduced the first creche into this part of Canada at the Jesuit Mission of Ste. Marie among the Hurons near what is now Midland in the southern Georgian Bay area of Ontario circa 1630.
We are planning a pre-convention tour to this historical site to enable delegates to learn about the life of the French Jesuit Missionaries working and living among the Wendat Huron peoples during the period. The mission site has been rebuilt according to archaeological evidence and enables delegates to experience something quite unique. It was the inspiration for the convention logo designed by well-known Canadian artist and teacher, Maurice Snelgrove.