Vatican City (Fides Service) - Christmas Cribs or Nativity Scenes are popular with young and old in many countries of the world. This tradition, started Umbria near Assisi, by St Francis of Assisi 1182-1226, had maintained all of its spiritual attraction despite many variations on the theme. For Christmas 2002 Fides Service provides a Dossier on the Tradition of Nativity Scenes in two parts: history (Saint Francis, Council of Trent, from Baroque to today); and Nativity Scenes around the world, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Province, German, Eastern Europe, other countries. See Italian only (Fides Service 19/12/2002)