Chocolatiers in Lebanon have created a life-sized nativity scene using 120,000 red, green, silver and gold foil-wrapped bonbons to embellish Baby Jesus, Joseph and the Virgin Mary.
It took 37 designers and craftsmen from Chantilly Chocolatier and 720 hours to create the edible nativity scene, which is on display at a popular shopping mall north of Beirut.
Baby Jesus is swaddled in a blanket of gold foil-wrapped bonbons and Mary is resplendent in a flowing robe studded with green, red and gold chocolates in a scene that spans 70 square meters.
It's not the first time the nativity scene has been re-enacted in edible form. Chocolatiers from Galleros Artesanos in Cordoba have for the past few years been recreating the Christmas story in chocolate -- the largest in Spain -- drawing thousands of visitors to the town of Rute every year.
La Crèche en Chocolat, meanwhile, will remain on display until January 8 at CityMall in Dora, Lebanon, and all chocolates will be donated to local charities.
{{/usCountry}}La Crèche en Chocolat, meanwhile, will remain on display until January 8 at CityMall in Dora, Lebanon, and all chocolates will be donated to local charities.
{{/usCountry}}For more photos, visit the chocolate maker's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/chantillychocolatier.