When to put up the nativity scene: dates, tradition and how to set it up

Every year, as December approaches, the same question comes up in many homes: when should you put up the nativity scene? There is no single compulsory date, but there are well-rooted customs worth knowing, especially if you want the scene to tell its story properly from beginning to end.

The most common dates to put up the nativity scene

• The first Sunday of Advent. In 2026 it falls on 29 November. It is the usual choice in Germany and Central Europe, and for anyone who lives Advent as a time of preparation.
• 8 December, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. This is the most widespread date in Spain and Italy, where it marks the official start of Christmas at home.
• Early December, together with the tree. Many families set up the nativity scene and the tree on the same weekend, simply for convenience.

What matters is not so much the exact day as respecting the order of the scene: the nativity is set up first, but some figures arrive later.

The figures that arrive later

According to tradition, the stable is prepared empty and completed as Christmas goes on:

• The Baby Jesus is placed in the manger on the night of 24 December, Christmas Eve.
• The Three Wise Men start far from the stable and move a little closer every day until they arrive on 6 January.

To learn what each figure represents and where it goes, read our guide on the meaning of the nativity scene figures.

And when do you take it down?

Most people put it away after Epiphany, 6 January, once the scene is complete. In some regions it stays up until 2 February, Candlemas, which closes the Christmas cycle.

How to set up the nativity scene step by step

1. Choose the spot before the nativity. A console, a shelf or a side table. With 10 cm figures, a 3-figure set takes about 30–40 cm.
2. Place the stable first in the center and leave space in front and on the sides.
3. Put Saint Joseph and the Virgin Mary next to the manger, facing it. The Baby Jesus arrives on Christmas Eve.
4. Add the ox and the donkey behind or beside the manger, and the sheep and shepherds facing the stable.
5. Leave the Three Wise Men at the opposite end and bring them closer each day.
6. If your nativity has a light, switch it on last: the built-in lighting gives the scene warmth without candles or garlands.

Choose your nativity scene in good time

November is the best time to choose your nativity scene: you have time to receive it and set it up calmly before Advent. At Novu we select every handcrafted nativity scene, hand-carved in sycamore maple by European artisan workshops, from 3 to 18 figures. If you prefer something more contemporary, see our minimalist nativity scenes or our nativity scenes with LED light. And if it is a present, here are our nativity sets as gifts.