Bakery Christmas creates nativity display out of bread

One bakery has gone against the grain this year using their very own bread loaves as a nativity display - and customers believe its butter than usual. 

Hobbs House Bakery in Gloucestershire has taken a unique approach to the retelling of the birth of Christ, using several delicious pieces of bread. 

In this doughy nativity, dubbed Breadlehem by the store, Mary, Joseph, the three wise men as well as the shepherds are played by organic white sourdough loaves. 

Whilst the little baguette portraying the baby Jesus rests in a hollowed out loaf of rye, among the scattered strands of hay. 

The pieces of bread were decorated with pieces of fabric, candy-canes, and crowns, but it wasn't as 'simple as it looks' according to staff member Anna Herbert.

The 'light hearted and fun' nativity has quickly gone viral on social media, with fans pointing out the scene was aptly chosen as Bethlehem translated to 'house of bread'.

'It seems that people are into Christmas quite early, we've sold a lot of mince pies already,' she told BBC Radio Gloucestershire

'The way they're made from a stubby, rounded loaf... they're definitely friendly-looking.'

Amanda Jane, who has worked at the Nailsworth bakery for nearly two decades and created several displays, explained that bringing the scene together was an 'artform'. 

She revealed the scene 'two or three' days to varnish - so the creative display wouldn't turn mouldy.

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She added: 'A nativity scene was perfect, as it's the Christmas story - the bread of life made from bread!'

This year the bakery kept their 'fun' design as simple as possible - avoiding carving of any limbs into the loaves.  

'I just cut one end off flat for them to stand up on, and then varnished them twice so they don't shrink or mould,' Amanda added: 'Then we added eyes and simple clothes.'

'Wild white sourdough loaves were the perfect shape. Baby Jesus is part of a baguette, and the crib a rye loaf. The star is a bakery creation.'

However the creation was a team effort, thought of by the Amanda and shop manager Hilary, and brought to life by the bakery team. 

'I had the idea and planned it then Amanda executed the idea,' Hilary added. 

The bakery manager was full of praise for Baz, who had created the star featured in the delicious scene. 

'Baz did a great job on the Christmas star which we really appreciated,' she said.

'We wanted something traditional and simple and I think we got it right!'