During my “big box retail” phase of the mid-late 90s, there were a few of us who would, on occasion, replace a certain baby in one of our display Nativity sets with Yoda. His size was just about right to replace the manger and all, and surprisingly, I don’t think there were ever any complaints – it was like an “Easter Egg” hidden within the seasonal department. Fast forward two decades and much has changed, but the Nativity has remained largely untouched – though someone did pitch me a zombie version last year that was sadly unsuccessful in its Kickstarter phase. But, for 2016, there is something new! Behold, the “Modern Nativity,” aka “Millennial Nativity” aka the “Hipster Nativity.”
Joseph is rockin’ a man bun and taking a selfie of Mary (holding a coffee cup while throwing a peace sign and doing “duckface”) and the baby. The shepherd is doing something on his tablet, while he’s got a sheep in a sweater next to a “100% organic” cow eating gluten-free feed. And the three wisemen? They’re arriving at the solar-powered stable on Segways, each bearing gifts from Amazon Prime.
At $129.99, I’d hope that it’s hand-crafted in America somewhere, but all we can confirm is that it’s “handpainted” (somewhere, probably China) resin. Some of the jokes seem a tad dated already, and others seem ripe to be made, but I’m already imagining a whole “Millennial Holiday Village” set. If the makers of this thing aren’t already on it, they can cut me a check and we’ll get the wheels moving.
Fun Fact: I was in a “Living Nativity” once. Never again. The experience still haunts me.
Want one? Check out ModernNativity.com
