Hidden Musicians of History: The Man Who Made Christmas Before It Was a Thing: St Francis of Assisi

A man usually portrayed talking to birds and looking mildly disappointed in humanity.

St Francis of Assisi.

 Patron saint of animals.

 Champion of poverty.

And, inconveniently for the stereotype, a songwriter.

Francis didn’t just like music.

 He used it.

He wrote hymns, sang publicly, and believed music was one of the fastest ways to reconnect people with joy, humility, and wonder. His most famous work, The Canticle of the Sun, wasn’t meant for quiet reflection. It was meant to be sung, out loud, by ordinary people.

And here’s the Christmas bit people forget.

Francis is credited with creating the first Nativity scene. Not the porcelain one. The live version. Animals, people, singing, community, chaos. A full sensory experience designed to make the Christmas story feel real, human, and emotionally unforgettable.

Music was central to that idea.

 Because reading theology is one thing.

 Singing it together is another.

So while later centuries wrapped Christmas in formality, choirs, and rules about when you’re allowed to clap, Francis was out there saying: bring the animals, bring the people, bring the music, and let’s make this joyful.

No polish.

 No power.

 No control.

Just song.

St Francis of Assisi

 Saint

 Songwriter

 And the man who made Christmas sound like Christmas

 🎶 𝗜’𝗺 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗻 𝗢’𝗡𝗲𝗶𝗹𝗹 — 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰 𝗞𝗶𝗱𝘀 𝗔𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗺𝘆

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