Passing on Christmas Traditions
by: Lynn Owen
Director:
Music:
Pastor:
Cast:
Narrarator:
Scene 1:
2 Grandmothers:
Several Young Children (no speaking parts, they hang ornaments as Grandmothers give them to the children)
Scene 2
Barbie:
Mary:
Joseph:
Wiseman 1:
Wiseman 2:
Wiseman 3:
Shepherd 1:
Shepherd 2:
Santa:
Little girl:
Older sisters:
Brother:
Mother:
Other children:
Props & Costumes:
Large Nativity Scene, Costumes for Live Nativity, Barbie Doll, Christmas Ornaments that are described by grandmothers, Small Christmas tree, Broken Angel, Santa Costume, Santa Figurine
Lights dim. Spot light center stage on Narrator
Narrator: Merry Christmas! We would like you to join our family this Christmas as we decorate for the holidays.
Scene 1 (Lights up Right stage)
Grandmothers enter with smaller children and hand out Christmas tree decorations to each child explaining the meaning of each decoration. Children hang them on the tree.
Grandma 1: Kids do you know why we put these decorations up for Christmas?
Grandma 2: We want to tell you the meaning of our favorite decorations!
(Grandma's take turns explaining the decorations and handing them to the children. The kids hang them on the tree after grandmas hand the decorations to them.)
CHRISTMAS TREE is evergreen and represents the Tree of Life & of the Crucifixion
Christmas Lights represent Jesus the light of the world
The gold garland symbolizes the pure character of God.
The silver icicles symbolize redemption and remind us that the Son of God was killed on our behalf for a few silver coins.
The shiny blue ornaments remind us of royalty, heaven, and the power given to us by God's Spirit. The red ornaments symbolize the blood Jesus shed to pay the ransom price of our sins. The white ones symbolize God's righteousness he has freely given to us. He has replaced our sin with his righteousness, so that when he looks at us He sees only the righteousness, not our sin. The round shape of the bulbs represents the Last Supper, or the Bread of Life, Body of Christ
Apples represent Adam & Eve's fall & sin
SNOWFLAKES represent winter the Christmas season
White Roses represent Virgin Mary a symbol of purity, love, & beauty
Straw Ornaments such as birds' nest represent straw from manger
Bells represent the glad tidings of the Presence of our Savior
Doves symbolizes the Spirit of God or the peace of God
Angels represents the Angel Gabriel and the multitude of angels that sang out "Glory to God in the Highest, Peace and Good will to all men."
Holly is the thorn woven in the crown of Christ and the red berries represents the blood from his wounds for us.
The Wreath shape is symbolic, representing eternity and the eternal nature of Christ's love. It is a circle without beginning and without end.
Mistletoe is a Christian symbol of peace
The White of the Candy Cane symbolizes purity, and hardness to symbolize Solid Rock, the foundation of the Church and firmness of the promises of God. The candy maker made the candy in the form of a "J" to represent the precious name of Jesus, who came to earth as our Saviour and the shape of the staff of the Good Shepherd. The large red stripe symbolized the blood shed by Christ on the cross so that we could have eternal life.
A CANDLE IN THE WINDOW shows the Christ Child the way. There was no room for them in the inn, but there is surely a place in our home for him
The Star on top of the tree guided the wise men that seek Him
Santa is a symbol representing the spirit of family fun and the joy of giving and receiving.
Presents represent the gifts given by the wise man to the baby Jesus, and the wonderful gift of God of his only son.
The family exits stage right singing a Christmas carol.
Scene 2
(Left Stage) Children enter with a box of figures of the Nativity wrapped after being stored all season.
_____________________________________________
Mom: You kids be careful, I have been collecting these figures for a long time. Some of these where given to me as presents. ( mom exits room.)
Older Child 1: We would be in big trouble if they get broke!
Child 2 opening box: I love setting this up every year it is so pretty!
Child 1 pulls out the first figurine, It is the manger with baby Jesus inside and places it in the center of the table.
(On stage as figures get placed on the table, the "live" characters enter on stage and freeze until the family leaves. They then come to life.)
Child 1: This is the most important part of the Nativity Scene, It has to go in the middle.
Child 2 "Here is Joseph" (pulling out a Joseph and carefully unwrapping it, places it on the table.)
Child 3 . "Here is Mary Jesus' mother" (Takes Mary out and places it beside baby Jesus)
Child 4: "I got a Wise man!" (Takes out a wise man and places it behind Joseph facing left)
Child 1: "Here is another wise man" (Takes out another wise man and places it correctly behind Mary. )
Child 2: "My wise man is a King! "(Takes out the third wise man leaving the bubble wrap on and places it on the table. He slowly spins the figure playing with it. One stage that wise man spins slowly until the little boy stops spinning it.)
Small child: "Here are the shephards!" (The shephard boys are also placed on the table by the smaller children. )
Child 3 (holding her Barbie takes out the angel and drops it breaking it): OH NO! Mom's gonna ground me! I know, I will put Barbie where the angel is suppose to be, she will never notice!" (Straightens Barbie's dress and places it where the Angel would normally go.)
Mom enters from the kitchen: "Children, the cookies have just come out of the oven, get them while they are warm! I have eggnog too!"
The kids get excited and run offstage. (some say ewwwwww! they don't like eggnog :>)
(Onstage, characters come to life)
Wise man 1 that has been spun takes off the bubble wrap and wipes his forehead "Whew! I thought he would never stop, I was getting very dizzy!"
Wise man 2: Hey! they placed me where I couldn't see this year? How is the Baby doing?
Wise man 3: He looks great! He seems to be sleeping right now. Mary how are you?
Mary: I am glad to be here again, I wish we didn't have to be put up every year, This needs to be remembered all year long.
Joseph: Hey, where's the Angel? I don't see her here? Did she get unpacked?
Wise man 1: I don't see her either, but someone new is here. (Turning to Barbie) Hello, What's your name?
Barbie: Hi I am Barbie, I don't know what I am doing here, That's a sweet little baby what's his name?
Wise man 2: Don't you know? That's baby Jesus.
Barbie: Baby Jesus? Who is he?
Mary smiles: He is the reason we have Christmas.
Barbie: Christmas? I thought Christmas was all about getting toys. That's how I got here last year. Santa brought me.
Wise man 2: No, getting toys seems to have become the reason now days, but it all started because of Jesus being born.
Barbie: Really!? Can you tell me about it?
Wise man 3: We would love to share the story with you! A long time ago there was a special woman named Mary. She was engaged to be married to man Joseph. Before they married something wonderful happened. An Angel appeared to Mary to let her know how special she was to God.
Mary: I was afraid when the angel came to me but he gave me such wonderful news, News that would change the world! I was going to have a very special child!
Joseph: That angel appeared to me too! I was not to be afraid to take Mary as my wife even though she was with child. The angel told me how special the baby would be and even told me what to name him. We had a long trip ahead of us. We had to go to Bethlehem to be counted in our hometown. That is where Baby Jesus was born. There where so many people that we couldn't find a room but a kind Inn Keeper offered us a warm place to stay in his stable.
Shepherd Boy: We were in the fields watching over the sheep. A bright star appeared in the sky and that same angel came to us too!
Shepherd boy 2: The angel told us "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people." The angel told us the baby would wrapped in swadding clothes laying in a manger" and the Bright star would show us where to find him.
Wise man 1: After Jesus was born King Herod heard about it and wanted us to find him. We followed that star as well. We brought him precious gifts of Gold Frankensence and Myrrh. We did not return to King Herod and let him know where he was because we where warned by the angel that the King wanted to harm him.
Barbie: But what makes Baby Jesus so special? There were a lot of babies born then. What makes him different?
Mary: Well Barbie, Jesus is the Son of God. He was sent to us as a special gift to the world. God sent his only son to us that through him the world could be saved.
Barbie: You know, Kayla took me to church with her one day. I listened to what was being said. I heard about sin, how all people sin, I heard a man talk about salvation through Jesus. How he forgives people. Is this who they where talking about? This little baby?
Wise man 1: This is the baby. He grew up to do great things. He was perfect. He full filled all that God had in store for him. It is because of this wonderful gift from God that people have hope.
Barbie: So I guess that is why people give gifts? To represent the gift from God, and the gifts to Jesus from you guys? I am so proud that I can be a part of this, this year! I didn't know that Christmas had such a special meaning. I know you may be packed away again after Christmas, but I am sure this family doesn't pack away the meaning. It's in their hearts.
(The family reenters, Characters onstage freeze)
Mom: That looks nice kids, I love the new angel (hugs the little girl who broke the angel) Are you ready to help finish decorating the tree? I will tell you the story of Christmas while we work.
They exit singing a Christmas Carol.
Little Boy Child runs back and places a Santa on the table and runs off stage.
"Live" Santa walks over to the manger and kneels. "Hey little guy! Happy Birthday!" Scene Freezes
Poem is read by Narrorator:
"The sleigh was all packed, the reindeer were fed
but Santa still knelt by the side of his bed
'Dear Father,' he prayed, "Be with me tonight,
There's much work to do and my schedule is tight.
My sack will hold toys to grant all kid's wishes.
The supply will be endless like the loaves and the fishes.
I can do all these things, Lord, only through you.
I just need your blessing, then it's easy to do.
I do this only to honor the birth of the one,
that was sent to redeem us, Your most Holy Son.
So to all of my friends, lest your glory I rob,
please, Lord, remind them who gave me this job."
Pastor ends program with a few words, prayer and alter call.
