Vatican sets Nativity scene in Nazareth

This Christmas the Vatican has changed the traditional Nativity scene display in front of St Peter's Basilica into a scene showing the young Jesus in Nazareth, at Joseph's carpentry shop.

Pope Benedict XVI will inaugurate the new life size version of the Nativity scene on Christmas Eve. The baby Jesus will be surrounded by "the typical work tools of a carpenter", rather than the barn animals normally associated with the birth of Jesus.

On one side of the shop will be a "covered patio", whilst the other will feature the "inside of a pub, with its hearth", reports the Telegraph.

The change in setting was announced by the State Department of the Vatican, who are the organisers and builders of the Nativity scene.

The idea of setting the scene in Nazareth rather than in Bethlehem came from Matthew 1:24-25 which says, "When Joseph woke up, he did as the Angel of God ordered and took Mary into his house. Without them knowing each other, a child was born and he called his name Jesus."

The book of Matthew mentions that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, however a spokesman for the Vatican said that they had decided to feature the Nativity scene in Nazareth anyway.

The spokesman said, "It was time for a change and a return to St Matthew's gospel."

None of the three Vatican departments responsible for organising the Nativity scene commented on who had made the final decision to depict Nazareth, or on why the decision had been made.

However according to the Telegraph, sources close to the Vatican said that there was a desire to crack down on "fanciful Nativity scenes" which have started to appear in recent times.

Such "fanciful" scenes include those in the city of Naples where Nativity scenes included people such as Elvis Presley and Silvio Berlusconi amongst those who come to visit the baby Jesus.

Pope John Paul II began displaying the Nativity scene outside St Peter's basilica in 1982.