Ice Sculpture of Nativity Scene Created in Graz, Austria By Gert J. Hoedl and Team

To mark the start of the Advent season, ice sculptor Gert J. Hoedl and his international team created a nativity scene made of ice, in Graz, Austria on Nov. 26, 2011. The nativity scene depicts the Virgin Mary cradling the baby Jesus, while Joseph looks on. The Three Kings are shown bearing gifts. Hoedl and his team have been doing this for this for the start of Advent every year since 1996, with variations in details, and claim it is the biggest one in the world.

Comments

[suzabellawilliam]

03:08 AM on 12/05/2011

I thought the sculptures were very beautifully done; liked watching small portion about the techniques used to create them; wish I could sculpt and create something as interesting as these people can; what truely great art they are gifted with

[LMPE]

05:21 PM on 11/29/2011

Oh come on! Why can't we have an ice sculpture of something cool, like "Gilligan's Island"?

[DeuxExMachina]

05:49 PM on 11/29/2011

There is nothing to stop you carving one. When you're done, have it displayed at Rockerfeller Center, NYC for all to see.

[LMPE]

06:00 PM on 11/29/2011

I can't carve.

[richdibo]

12:03 AM on 11/29/2011

Religion can be so cold.

[DeuxExMachina]

07:25 AM on 11/29/2011

But I hear hell is on fire all the time! Try it sometime :-)

[richdibo]

12:01 AM on 11/29/2011

What a wonderful thought: along with the Austrian nativity scene, Pope Benny, the Vatican and religion would just melt away someday - like the Wicked Witch of the West in the Wizard of Oz.

[see-ellen2001]

09:38 PM on 11/28/2011

Very pretty

[BurtonDesque]

08:15 PM on 11/28/2011

"Religion poisons everything", including ice sculptures.

[DeuxExMachina]

07:31 AM on 11/29/2011

And if you can do better, there is nothing to stop you from freely carve out your own ice sculpture.

[BurtonDesque]

02:54 PM on 11/29/2011

I could certainly pick better subject matter.

[edwardandersons]

08:03 PM on 11/28/2011

Its nice to see something created in honor of our Lord whose birth was the begining of God's

[Bones Rhodes]

12:15 AM on 11/29/2011

---while I was thinking that the same effort and money could have done so much actual good used toward those in need: somehow, I think your mythical lord would have been better honored.

[DeuxExMachina]

07:24 AM on 11/29/2011

It's art and religion. You could also say the same about the various museums around the US that could auction off their collections and distribute the money to those same needy. Also people shouldn't pay to go and see a baseball, basketball or football match andd instead donate to charity. Think of all the electricty saved if stadiums didn't have to be lit. And on a personal level, if you are so concerned, why aren't you out helping the poor and needy instead of sniping on a religious blog?

[suzabellawilliam]

03:14 AM on 12/05/2011

maybe the artist does do alot of charity work with his money he makes from sculpting; we don't know what all he does except create some very beautifully detailed ice sculptures; do you do alot to help others in need???

[NoPsychoBabble]

07:41 PM on 11/28/2011

Frankly, I preferred Nativity on Ice with Kristi Yamaguchi as the Virgin Mary and Brian Boitono as baby Jesus.

[Grada3784]

08:49 PM on 11/28/2011

But what was he cooking?

[fds]

07:19 PM on 11/28/2011

What a colossal waste of energy.

[DeuxExMachina]

07:38 AM on 11/29/2011

Of course it would seem that to people who can't be bothered to pull themselves off the couch.

[fds]

11:51 AM on 11/29/2011

You assume too much, and that makes you a poor debate subject.

That energy, used to freeze the ice and then to carve it, could have gone toward something useful. Unfortunately, it didn't.

[jokamachi]

05:57 PM on 11/28/2011

Christmas is such a wonderful time of the year. I feel sorry for the Atheists who have to stand on the sidelines sucking their thumbs.

[SoapboxKing]

06:17 PM on 11/28/2011

Any particular reason why you deiced to attack Atheists at this particular moment? Not very Christian of you, that is for sure.

[DeuxExMachina]

05:53 PM on 11/29/2011

Look at his/her monicker

[Laura w]

06:33 PM on 11/28/2011

Do I have to be religious to enjoy well done art?

[DeuxExMachina]

06:01 PM on 11/29/2011

Not at all. Aesthetics has it's own criteria and that is what a lot of people don't understand. Whatever one's background or beliefs, one can appreciate Chinese, Classical, Christian, European, Moorish, modern art, etc. But taste is also pesonal. For example, while others may find organic art (e.g. dead sheep in urine) daring or trendy, I wouldn't pay 2c for it.

[evilchihuahua]

01:37 PM on 11/28/2011

Holy Margarita!

[La Elle]

01:21 PM on 11/28/2011

Technically, the kings are not supposed to enter the picture until January.

[PETER TIMINGS]

03:05 PM on 11/28/2011

Technically they do not enter the picture for two years.Matthew 2v7-11 says "Then Herod secretly summoned the astrologers and carefully ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearing; 8 and, when sending them to Beth′le‧hem, he said: “Go make a careful search for the young child, and when YOU have found it report back to me, that I too may go and do it obeisance.” 9 When they had heard the king, they went their way; and, look! the star they had seen [when they were] in the east went ahead of them, until it came to a stop above where the young child was. 10 On seeing the star they rejoiced very much indeed. 11 And when they went into the house they saw the young child with Mary its mother, and, falling down, they did obeisance to it

When they arrived Jesus was about 2 years old and in a house not stable. They were astrologers not kings. The star led them to Herod who wanted to kill Jesus, the star was put there by Gods enemy Satan.Astrology is based on falsehoods and is therefore detestable to the God of truth, Jehovah. (Psalm 31:5) For that reason, the Bible clearly condemns it and urges people to have nothing to do with it. Deuteronomy 18:10-12, “

[gemmax]

07:27 PM on 11/28/2011

We all know the story, but this is art and it is "COOL".

[La Elle]

09:00 PM on 11/28/2011

You left off 2:7-12 where it was said they were warned in a dream having been not to go back to Herod, and they returned to their country by another route. But we're just debating a book that is mostly a work of fiction. I have no interest in rehashing what I've said millions of times. So I'll leave it at this: I don't think the bible is the word of any omnipotent being. There's no evidence that it is, and if you study histories in world religion, you find that many stories in the bible are strangely similar to ancient mythology. There may be some historical accuracies in the bible, but that's it. Other than that, it is just a book of stories.

[writersbloc]

12:44 PM on 11/28/2011

Oh I remember the days when a pipe was just a pipe, and a nativity scene was just a nativity scene. Well done Austria.

[eddy joe]

07:18 PM on 11/28/2011

They still are, to sane people.

[BurtonDesque]

08:14 PM on 11/28/2011

I see. So, people who disagree are all insane, eh?

I guess, given that makes folks like Thomas Paine and Jefferson insane, I'll head off to the loony bin with them.

[see-ellen2001]

09:41 PM on 11/28/2011

And a cigar was just a cigar.

[suzabellawilliam]

03:18 AM on 12/05/2011

way to funny, lol lol; thanks for the laugh

[RattleCat]

12:41 PM on 11/28/2011

That is amazing.  I can't even make ice cubes.

[Luisito Gopez]

12:48 PM on 11/28/2011

hahahahaaaaaa!

[yvp]

12:29 PM on 11/29/2011

LOL, it is gorgeous!!!!!! The above posts state the time and energy can be spent to help others. As far as I am concerned, it has, by putting a smile on our faces in a time when news is so grim all over the world.

Those Europeans got it right!

[bridgeman]

12:39 PM on 11/28/2011

WOW!