As Christmas draws near, homes are embracing a new trend in festive decor with compact, designer cribs for Baby Jesus. Recreating the Bethlehem stable, nativity scenes and figurines continue to evolve in style and form each year, with this season's standout being space-saving mangers designed to fit neatly into small corners of homes.

The materials used for the figurines have also changed over time. Once crafted mainly from clay, they are now increasingly made of wood and ceramic, with white, gold and ivory shades dominating this year's collections.

Figurines range in size from two inches to two feet, with nativity sets priced between ₹300 and ₹2,500. For those who prefer convenience, ready-made cribs arranged on circular, plank-like platforms are also available. Mangers made of wood, reed and bamboo are on sale, while traditionally handcrafted mangers prepared at home continue to find favour this Christmas season.

These traditional mangers are created by growing grass to form green patches, building miniature plants and cattle sheds and arranging larger figurines. Such displays are the result of careful preparation lasting several days. Baby Jesus is placed in the manger on the night of December 24, and in many households, it is customary to keep the manger until the feast of Epiphany.

History of manger

The manger occupies a central place in Christmas celebrations and carries a rich historical legacy. The first known manger was created in 1233 by Saint Francis of Assisi. That original nativity featured live humans and animals, a tradition that later evolved into the use of small clay figurines.