An octopus in the knitted Nativity

December 20, 2017 2:54 AM

"Christmas is a time of year where normal standards of aesthetics go out the window. I'm very pleased to report that England's Cathedrals have not disappointed in this regard when constructing their Nativity scenes."

(Twitter thread. Don't miss the other examples in the comments.)
posted by Catseye (21 comments total)

And an honourable mention of course to that other most revered of national institutions, Gregg's, as seen previously on MeFi.
posted by Catseye at 2:58 AM on December 20, 2017 [2 favorites]

This is glorious. The table one made me snort.
posted by corvine at 3:43 AM on December 20, 2017 [1 favorite]

Very funny, though I actually rather liked Lincoln's effort.
posted by Busy Old Fool at 3:49 AM on December 20, 2017

This made my day! Thanks!
posted by I_Love_Bananas at 4:12 AM on December 20, 2017

it seems like there must be a story behind that octopus and i would very much like to know it
posted by halation at 5:55 AM on December 20, 2017

Man, some of those '70s Doctor Who episodes with the Autons got pretty strange, and maybe even a bit blasphemous.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 6:18 AM on December 20, 2017 [1 favorite]

So many variations! My favourite was the jolly round set. There's so much cheerful knitting.
posted by eisforcool at 6:21 AM on December 20, 2017 [2 favorites]

There actually is an Airfix Nativity or at least someone with Photoshop wishes there was.
posted by lagomorphius at 7:00 AM on December 20, 2017

I do like the mysterious octopus. I have a yarn octopus on my Christmas tree. Cephalopods have souls too!
posted by mermayd at 7:06 AM on December 20, 2017

I cannot find the octopus and now I feel like the worst mefite ever.
posted by telepanda at 7:09 AM on December 20, 2017 [6 favorites]

If I were setting one of these up, I would be so tempted to sneak a Weeping Angel in.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 7:20 AM on December 20, 2017 [2 favorites]

I involuntarily snort-laughed at Pompeii, doubly embarrassing because I was in a place where sudden laugher is unexpected (office bathroom).

My favorite is Leicester's, with the Wise Man donning his high-viz vest (Safety First!). I didn't see the pink boa or gold lamé pants until the second look, and it makes it all even better.
posted by Fig at 7:35 AM on December 20, 2017 [4 favorites]

#BabyJesus - hee.
posted by Space Kitty at 7:44 AM on December 20, 2017

telepanda, here is a link to the octopus, who apparently showed up with the three wise men.
posted by halation at 7:50 AM on December 20, 2017 [8 favorites]

Re: the nativity octopus, maybe someone's a Love Actually fan. ("Eight is a lot of legs, David!")
posted by rewil at 9:36 AM on December 20, 2017 [1 favorite]

Oh, the animal shelter dogs in Dublin!!! I hope they all get their Christmas wishes of tummy rubs and forever homes! Sniff!
posted by stillmoving at 9:49 AM on December 20, 2017 [1 favorite]

I wanted to hug the knitted ones; they look like good cuddle buddies.
posted by fiercecupcake at 11:07 AM on December 20, 2017 [1 favorite]

Turns out the dogs are from Leicestershire.
posted by larrybob at 6:37 PM on December 20, 2017 [1 favorite]

BRB, gonna go add some octopi to my trees now.
posted by jenfullmoon at 7:25 PM on December 20, 2017

Knit a fresh Jesus!
posted by bitter-girl.com at 9:19 PM on December 20, 2017 [3 favorites]

"He was born under a table?"
Comedy gold.
posted by BigHeartedGuy at 12:23 PM on December 21, 2017