One of the wonderful traditions of Christmas is the Nativity.
Hallstatt offers unique experiences with their Nativities - in the Catholic church, in shop windows, before the houses and in the wonderful exhibition in the cellar of sports shop Janu.
Saint Francis of Assisi is often credited with being the first to create a live nativity scene, in 1223. He did it to promote the worship of Christ. He had come back from The Holy Land, where he had been shown the traditional birthplace of Jesus. The scene was so popular that it inspired communities throughout Catholic countries to stage similar pantomimes.