The mistery of Nativity goes back to the first era of Christianity, altough the history of crib has begun in 1223, when the birth of Redeemer was commemorated by Saint Francesco in a cave, in Greccio. The volume rebuilds this centuries-old event like a passionate story and an extraordinary photographic reportage. Very precious or very modest cribs, in clay or in silver, very large or small like a walnut: fascinating works, they strictly recall the culture which they belong. In appendix: the list of sites where the most important cribs are situated.