The nativity statues were made in the Saint Francis alter building workshop of the Pécs order of the Franciscans by fraters and secular workers. The nativity scene is considered a unique artwork in Hungary.

Setting up a nativity scene dates back to the year of 1223 when Saint Francis of Assisi created a live nativity scene in the Italian town of Greccio to present the birth of Jesus Christ to the locals. Ever since displaying a nativity scene has been an important Christmas tradition.

Nativity scene building by the Franciscans in Pécs goes back to the 1920s when a young man called Ferenc Tóth was commissioned by his Franciscan spiritual leader to renovate the furniture of the order. By the time he finished the job, he had decided to stay with the order. In 1929 he was known as brother Ernő (Ernest) and was in charge of the Saint Joseph workshop. Altars were built in this Pécs based workshop for all religious houses of the order in the country. The chief of the province shared with brother Ernő the idea of setting up a nativity scene in 1936, so he visited the churches of Italy and concluded that the nativity scene displayed in San Antonio church in Rome was the most beautiful artwork. Therefore, he decided to model his work on it.

By Christmastime in 1940 he had carved and painted the statues of Jesus Christ, Virgin Mary, and Saint Joseph using willow from Siklós along with willow and aspen trunks from Mohács. One year later the nativity scene was complete with shepherds, angels, a Puli, a cow, a lamb, a donkey, a camel, an elephant, and the Three Wise Men.

Although the Franciscan brethren were removed in 1950 and they could never return, the unique artworks they had created remained in Pécs. Their artistic nativity scene has been displayed in the Franciscan church ever since from Christmas Eve to the day commemorating the presentation of Jesus at the temple (February 2) promoting the order’s motto “pray and labour”.