Annual Family Christmas Nativity Pageant

Iris and Camilla preparing for their roles as Mary and Baby Jesus

     Over the years, our family has had a tradition of gathering together on Christmas Eve and reenacting the Nativity complete with costumes for everyone.  No one is exempt from joining in -- including guests who happen to just find themselves there visiting. The adults are usually the Narrators, Shepherds, Angel chorus, and the Wise Men.  The youngest children are the sheep and donkey, the Angel/Star (holder) and of course, Mary and Joseph.  Sometimes we have a newborn to play the role of the Baby Jesus.  This was one of those years.  Baby Camilla was born just a few days before Christmas, so she got the job, without even an audition!  We knew she could tackle the role and do it perfectly.

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     Alas, one of the other actors was not so prepared for her assignment.  Our little sheep, 2 year old Avery, did not agree that her role should require wearing a costume.  And she much preferred doing her own interpretive dance to the Christmas carols, instead of silently and sedately "lowing in the field."  

     Five year olds Zak and Iris and 7 year old Ethan, however, took their roles as the donkey and Mary and Joseph very seriously.  They stayed in character the entire time.  And Iris was a beautiful Mary and insisted (with the ever watchful care of the actual mother) on holding the baby Jesus throughout the songs and narrations.  And our Angel/Star (holder) Isabelle (age 8) was perfectly cast to lend sparkle to the production.

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     We even had a few surprise Oscar-worthy performances.  The Wise Men this year were played by Great Uncle David, Uncle Michael and cousin Grace.  They sang their verses of "We Three Kings" with style and expertise.  

      And Special Guest artist Great Uncle Steve gave a polished performance as the Roman Prefect who announced that "all the world should be taxed."  All of the older adults (family and guests) read the Narrations and joined in the singing.  They kept in character and also gave stellar performances.

       This has become quite a tradition in our family.  In the olden days, Great Grandpa Tom would read from the Bible and Book of Mormon and any combination of his children and grandchildren would act out the roles.  As the family grew bigger and older, the different families continued to carry on the tradition in their smaller groups in their own homes.  This year, because our child actors were so young, I decided to write an actual Christmas Nativity Script (a much abridged script) including the words to the songs, with enough copies for everyone to have one to hold.  

     A wonderful time was had by all and we enjoyed feeling the Spirit of Christmas and celebrating the birth and mission of the Savior of the World together this Christmas 2019.