According to his biographer, Thomas de Celano, Francis assembled what is considered the first crèche, saying, “Out of Greccio is made a new Bethlehem.”

Source: https://www.ncregister.com/features/knights-of-columbus-creches-2023-dxn5ys88

Ahead of his return to the hermitage, two weeks before Christmas, Francis asked his friend, Lord of Greccio Giovanni Velita, to prepare a cave with live animals and a hay-filled manger.

Source: https://www.ncregister.com/cna/st-francis-and-the-story-of-the-first-nativity-scene-uwazrnkq

Much like St. Francis, in addition to what he did in Greccio, led a Eucharistic Revival in the 13th century, we’re called to bring Eucharistic piety “to life again” so that it may be “stamped upon … the fervent memory” of Catholics today and tomorrow.

Source: https://www.ncregister.com/commentaries/christmas-lessons-of-greccio

One of the bystanders, a knight of Greccio named John of Velita, told of a vision of the infant Jesus in the manger as Francis preached.

Source: https://www.mississippicatholic.com/2023/12/04/thanks-to-st-francis-800-year-tradition-of-nativity-scene-born/