As Christmas rolls around, you’ll see plenty of traditional nativity scenes, but here are a few you might have missed.
1. Hipster Nativity
In homage to 2016, a San Diego-based company has created a Hipster Nativity, featuring Mary making a duck face while posing for her first selfie with the newborn Jesus.
Hipster Nativity Modern Nativity
“If you’ve ever wondered what the very first family Christmas photo looked like, wonder no longer,” reads the website. “Fresh off a Whole Foods shopping spree, Joseph is rocking his man bun and finest denim shirt.
“I don’t even think they had iPhones back then, which explains why Joseph didn’t add the birth of Jesus to his Snapchat story.”
The scene also features three Wisemen, dressed in their favourite hipster outfits, and riding on segways. They bear gifts from Amazon Prime.
“It wouldn’t be a modern day birth if at least one person wasn’t putting it on Instagram, and luckily, our teenage shepherd has it covered #babyjesus #nofilter.”
2. Minimal Nativity
At the other end of the spectrum, Frenchwoman Émilie Voirin has created a nativity scene consisting of names written on cubes of wood.
Minimal Nativity Set by Emilie Voirin Emilie Voirin
“The holy scene that has been broadly reproduced is here recognisable by the names only, giving freedom to people’s imagination,” writes Voirin.
“It is a minimalist version of the biblical scene and it can lead to questions about the accuracy of commercial representations.”
Minimal Nativity Set by Emilie Voirin Emilie Voirin
3. The nativity scene in the modern day Middle East
Medical Aid organisation Doctors of the World has released a set of Christmas cards that starkly juxtapose vintage biblical nativity scenes with modern-day photographs of conflict zones across the Middle East.
Christmas Card from Doctors of the World Doctors of the World
“Every Christmas a romanticised picture is presented of the Holy Land of the past, featuring peaceful pastoral images that are shared in homes, churches and high streets across the country,” says Leigh Daynes, executive director of Doctors of the World. “This is completely at odds with the humanitarian crisis that the region faces today.
“This Christmas we’re asking people to see the realities that we see of the war-torn Middle East, and share some goodwill with a donation to help us give medical aid to people in desperate need.”
Christmas Card from Doctors of the World Doctors of the World
Christmas Card from Doctors of the World Doctors of the World
4. Cheese Nativity
So this one was around last year, but it’s just so amazing, we think it deserves another mention. A food artist in the UK created a nativity scene made entirely from cheese!
Cheese nativity Youtube
Cheese nativity Youtube