The First Nativity Scene

After his return to Italy from a voyage to Egypt in 1220, Saint Francis of Assis introduced the first three-dimensional nativity scene.  He only used a straw-filled manger set between a real ox and donkey.  It was said to be beautiful in its simplicity.

It wasn't until 1562 when a crib was added to scene by the Jesuits in Prague.  It was considered the first crib of the modern kind.