Limerick crib recalls the myth of the wily fox saving the Holy Family

Cribs come in all shapes and sizes, and exuding varying degrees of piety or cheeriness, depending on which set of people or what establishment happens to be displaying this Christmas tradition. 

As a campaigner against blood sports, my favourite is the crib that appears every year at the Dominican Church in Limerick. In addition to the usual cast of donkey, cow, and sheep to accompany the birth of Jesus, there’s a fox.

The effigy recalls a legend associated with the Holy Family. The friars at the church are always glad to recount the story. According to it, the Three Wise Men left a fox cub at the stable in Bethlehem as a gift.