Innovative nativity scenes go viral as people reimagine Bethlehem using ketchup, bleach and cherry lip balm

Marie Kondo came, saw and conquered nativity scenes - getting us all to embrace the minimalist approach even when it comes to the holy family

(Getty Images)

‘Tis the time of the year when we decorate our houses with wreaths, garlands, Christmas trees, tins of Quality Street, and of course - in many homes - the obligatory nativity scene.

While lots of people celebrate Christmas as atheists, lapsed Christians, or just as a non-religious cultural holiday, the nativity scene reminds us of the origins of the season. Or at least it’s meant to.

As with all decorative interior touches, the nativity scene has not escaped the advent of minimalism: the Instagram aesthetic spawned by a thousand white walls and cemented by 2018 joy-promoter and thrower-away-in-chief Marie Kondo.  

While Kondo does not dominate the zeitgeist as much as she once did, her legacy remains. And it seems even the son of Christ has not escaped the decluttering age.

This week, Twitter user Kirby Jones shared images of some ultimate minimalist nativity scenes she had come across online - including one made entirely out of balls and another out of glass panels.

She captioned her discovery: “Last night I discovered “minimalist nativity sets” and I am WEEPING.”

But Jones (who wasn’t too pleased with the $150 price tag on some of them) wasn’t the only one to have made the discovery - hundreds of people replied with their own versions from pandemic-appropriate cleaning products to pepper shakers.

One person shared a pared-back nativity scene complete with knitted jackets that they’d been given by their aunt.

I’m v proud of the one my aunt gave me 😊 pic.twitter.com/Ha7NB5SmT5

— Jay Booth (@Jay_Boof) December 5, 2020

Anyone else remember Domestos being mentioned in the bible?  

This was my Curacy church, it wasn’t set up like this, it appeared after church cleaning. Accidental minimalist nativity pic.twitter.com/Bp1Cg9dOLP

— Fr. Samuel-Bruno SSC (@FatherSJMC) December 6, 2020

In 2020 of course we had to have the minimalist nativity coronavirus edition.  

minimalist nativity scene, COVID-19 edition pic.twitter.com/Tg80i6IjeE

— sarah slothanova (@slothanova) December 9, 2020

I made this one earlier in the pandemic pic.twitter.com/wDesRMGcXj

— It's the candle 🕯 (@megansmiddleton) December 6, 2020

Someone who apparently has a lot of hotel mini condiments to hand.

Is it too late to join the weird minimalist nativity scene fad?#MinimalistNativity pic.twitter.com/632jSiinBj

— Felyn (@felyn) December 9, 2020

A tube of cherry Carmex lip balm cosplaying as Joseph. We love to see it.

Just set up my new #minimalist nativity scene. It was $200 but worth it. pic.twitter.com/gwxo6lmO2J

— The Big Stinky (@stinkyanna) December 6, 2020

Or even a bag of licorice sweets getting involved in the fun.

Pls tell me I'm not the only one who does this pic.twitter.com/cp0FHGKnvS

— Neem- ho ho ho (@NE3M0) December 7, 2020

Other food themed set ups included this one with a bag of walnuts and half an apple.

My parents immediately took up the challenge and came up with their own minimalist nativity scene https://t.co/cwrPbhEYpc pic.twitter.com/cKFO6E3Rcf

— Dr Paula Manstetten (@PaulaManstetten) December 7, 2020

We even had a physics circuit rendition of the story from a laboratory assistant. Who says religion and science cannot coexist?  

A final festive #WhatsInMyTray for the end of term. I made a physics prep room minimalist nativity scene. pic.twitter.com/kgLTa3rkdB

— Rachel Chilton (@labtech666) December 11, 2020

The IT department didn’t want to be left out of the nativity action.  

IT Department Nativity Scene pic.twitter.com/AqFC8Y0IWs

— FlynnUnplugged (@FlynnUnplugged) December 6, 2020

Minimalism doesn’t have to be confined to the home - others shared pictures from the wild.

Seen in the neighborhood: minimalist nativity scene. #HoustonHeights pic.twitter.com/iCwPM0FXOC

— jw (@woolfhound) December 10, 2020

There is a house near me that does an outdoor, minimalist nativity scene made from pvc pipe. The first time I saw it I initially wondered why they aimed fancy lights at a bunch of pipes sticking out of the ground, then I noticed the configuration.

— Kim Z Dale (@observacious) December 6, 2020

Merry Christmas indeed.