topic Re: Christmas Traditions Rolling Out! in Community Chat

Christmas Traditions Rolling Out!

Oznell — Fri, 01 Dec 2017 03:26:57 GMT

Tomorrow, an unexpected pleasure. Our son was asked to play Joseph in a "living nativity" that is going to be in a park in our town, tomorrow night and Saturday night.

I've never been up close to a living nativity. It's exciting! We've warned our son not to cut up, or laugh, or anything inappropriate, but these things are unpredictable. Asking teenagers to remain reasonably solemn, and rock-still for several hours, hmmm. Especially if his friends come around. Of course, who's to say Joseph wasn't giddy and loquacious and super-excited on that special night....

Our son has threatened to whip his cell phone out of his robe at some pre-planned time, just for the shock value. But he's a jokester, he wouldn't really do it...

What Christmas traditions are you most looking forward to?

Re: Christmas Traditions Rolling Out!

susan kay — Fri, 01 Dec 2017 22:24:14 GMT

How nice! I'm sure that he'll "do you proud".........

What a nice event for everyone in your town to enjoy.

Re: Christmas Traditions Rolling Out!

Noel7 — Sat, 02 Dec 2017 00:05:45 GMT

How nice! I don’t think we know much about Joseph, there seems to be two theories. Do you have a smartphone or something to tape the scene?

Re: Christmas Traditions Rolling Out!

deepwaterdotter — Sat, 02 Dec 2017 00:11:41 GMT

"Mary, can you hear me now?"

Re: Christmas Traditions Rolling Out!

cherry — Sat, 02 Dec 2017 00:12:41 GMT

Our traditions revolve around church. Advent starts this week, and it's 4 weeks of preparing for the birth of the Christ Child

Each week another candle will be lit on the Advent Wreath, at Mass ,until all 4 sundays have passed ,in the run up till Christmas

Dec 8 is the feast of the Immaculate Conception.

Our creche will come out then, with all the figures, but the Holy Child, who will be placed in his manger Dec 24.

Advent is a time of waiting, and preparing ,for the Light of the World to be born.

Re: Christmas Traditions Rolling Out!

Laura14 — Sat, 02 Dec 2017 00:33:06 GMT

Congrats @Oznell!

I may be a bit of a rebel but I take nothing that drop dead serious even my religion. God wouldn't have given us the gift of laughter if we were supposed to walk around like stoics all the time.

I'm sure your son will recognize the importance and gravity of the situation and do his part. And if he does whip out the cell, I personally think God himself would crack a smile.

Re: Christmas Traditions Rolling Out!

Oznell — Sat, 02 Dec 2017 13:22:18 GMT

Hey, thanks all of you for your nice and illuminating comments!

It's still going on tonight, for another 10 minutes. We loved it. The Wesleyan church we attend puts it on in one of the town parks, for two hours on two successive nights.

The park is like a large village square, in the middle of a residential section. You drive around the perimeter, and there are little "tableaux" at various stations where you stop and take them in. Our son was in the one where Joseph and Mary arrive to find no room at the inn. Our son was leading a live donkey with Mary. The innkeeper was a male adult parishioner that I think I recognize from services...

Other little scenes had clusters of angels, there were shepherds and live sheep and goats, there was an ethereal tableaux of the Annunciation, and on and on.

Our boy kept his composure, and made a terrific Joseph. He is tall and thin and suitably swarthy, with olive skin, dark brown hair and dark brown eyes that in some lights look like root beer, and others, deepest chocolate. He had a lofty expression on his face as though contemplating great things!

Although i take your point, @Laura14, very well said.

At one of the stations, our minister served us our choice of excellent coffee or hot cocoa.

It was so lovely, and such a humbling and edifying start to this wonderful season...

Re: Christmas Traditions Rolling Out!

cherry — Sat, 02 Dec 2017 01:40:58 GMT

@Oznell the Methodist church in our town does the same thing

It is fun to see the children all dressed up . They even have live animals at this church, sheep ,and donkeys ,and even some birds, and a cow

Re: Christmas Traditions Rolling Out!

Oznell — Sat, 02 Dec 2017 02:20:23 GMT

Oh, sorry, @Noel7, I forgot your question. We don't have a smartphone. Hubby took still pictures, awkwardly leaning across me in the passenger seat in the car. We haven't had a chance to look at them properly to see if they came out ok...

Re: Christmas Traditions Rolling Out!

cimeranrose — Sat, 02 Dec 2017 02:52:49 GMT

I have never heard of a live nativity but I think that is wonderful! How nice of your Church to do that. I'm sure your son will always remember doing something special like that.