Christmas play

“ On Christmas eve the people of the village gather together in some large room or hall and give a solemn little play, commemorating the birthday of the Saviour. One end of the room is used as a stage, and this is fitted up to represent the stable and the manger; and the characters in the sacred story of Bethlehem—Mary and Joseph, the shepherds, the wise men, and the angels—are represented in the tableaux, and with a genuine, reverential spirit. Even the poorer people of the town take part in these Christmas plays. ”

“ After considerable lamenting by the children over their disappointment, Ma Simpson, Pa Simpson, and the older children determine upon home-made presents, which results in a most pleasant surprise. 25 cents.
TOPSY TURVY CHRISTMAS, A. (Elizabeth F. Guptill.) A decidedly humorous Christmas play for any number of children from six to twelve years old. The children are tired of “minding” and of everything being “just so,” so they start to find a place where things will be different. There is a pleasing surprise for the audience at every turn of the play. ”

“ ABDOMINAL REMORSE. one enjoys Christmas games who is more than ten years of age. It need hardly be said that children of that age should be in bed on Christmas evening instead of being permitted to infest the drawing-room. Their enjoyment of Christmas games is, therefore, no excuse for the latter. We might as well excuse bull baiting on the ground that it gives pleasure to the dogs. We play Christmas games solely because an hereditary custom compels us so to do. Nobody who has arrived at years of discretion enjoys them, and ninety-nine people in a hundred detest them. ”

“ It was late autumn in the north woods, and Beatrice and Josephine were thinking about Christmas. They liked to think about Christmas: they liked to talk about it and to sing Christmas songs and to play Christmas games. Those two little girls had been known to play the game of Santa Claus filling Christmas stockings on the Fourth of July; and it was such fun they did not care who laughed. ”

“ If candies or gifts are to be distributed to children in the audience, as when this play is used as the Christmas entertainment of a Sunday School, Mother Goose may come out again, as soon as the curtain closes after the second scene, and speak as follows:
Well, my dear children, my little Play for you is finished, and I hope you liked it. There is just one thing left to be said. Those little boys and girls whom you saw asleep in their beds found that Santa Claus had not only put into their stockings presents for THEM, but also left something for YOU ”

“ Now, merry Christmas—and to all good night!
All.
Good night!
[Santa and the children go off L. and the sleigh-bells jingle away into the distance.]
Queen. Quick! Let’s to work, my subjects dear!
And share the joy of spreading Christmas cheer!
[The gifts are taken from the bag by the Queen and Jack Frost, and distributed among the audience by Fairies and Elves. If this ending is not desired, the “Hail to Santa Claus” chorus may be repeated after Santa’s exit, to the accompaniment of his bells, and the play closed in this manner.]
[Pg 29]
WHICH SHALL BE KING? ”

“ The play took place at intervals of from three to ten years and was acted on all Sundays and festivals from Advent to the Epiphany. Great care was taken to ensure the strictest piety and morality in the actors, and no secular music was allowed in the place during the season for the performances. The practices began as early as October. On the first Sunday in Advent there was a solemn procession to the hall hired for the play. First went a man bearing a gigantic star—he was called the “Master Singer”—and another carrying a Christmas-tree decked with ribbons and apples ”

“ These little plays were written for the classes and clubs of a small Sunday-school, where the Christmas celebration consisted of a play to introduce Santa Claus and a Christmas-tree. They are equally suitable for children at home or in day schools, and they have been so used. ”

“ And now I want to get up a Christmas for some poor children, and I don't know how to do it, so I have come to ask you to help me. I want you to play Santa Claus for me, and we will find the toys, and then we will find the children. I have a great big sleigh, and we will go off to a toy-shop, and presently I will bring you back home again. ”

“ Exit
(If used at the close of a Christmas exercise, have the girls and Jerusha come up the aisle of the church or hall sometime during the distribution of the presents. Jerusha should then be dressed in her “first best clothes.”)
Christmas Plays
(+) OLA: OR A CHRISTMAS PRESENT FOR MOTHER. In this little 15-minute play the Christmas present the three children of the “Good” family find for mother is none other than “Ola,” a street waif who comes in to get warm while mother is out shopping. ”

“ Price per copy.............................$0.25
The Children’s Christmas Dream
By Mary E. Telford
A Christmas play in one act, easily staged, teaching the spirit of giving. Has a splendid missionary climax. Sixteen characters (children) . The scene is laid out in Grandfather’s house where the children are spending their Christmas. While waiting for Santa, the children fall asleep. A fairy summons children from foreign lands who make their appeal to learn more of the Christ Child. ”

“ The hair, mustache, and beard, with a good-314- rosy make-up, are sufficient disguise for him, and in those cases where there are little children in the cast whose literal belief in Santa Claus must not be disturbed, he is not indispensable at rehearsals. Partly because he should not be recognized, an adult player is always indicated for this part, rather than an older boy, who is apt to be in more intimate touch with the children.
Christmas Tree. If the play is to serve as introduction to a Christmas Tree, the tree should be placed as near the stage as possible. ”

“ It is unknown to many people that the Christmas toys grow from seed in the garden of the Christmas Monks. The play relates the adventures of the Prince, Peter, and Peter's little sister, in this wonderful place. ”

“ But the harper said, "I must not stay, for my wife and my child and my little brown dog are waiting for me, and I have promised them to be at home by Christmas day to eat my share of the Christmas pudding and sing the Christmas songs by my own fireside."
Then the king said, "If you will stay on Christmas day one tune to play and one song to sing, I will give you a velvet robe to wear, and you may sit beside me here with a ring on your finger and a crown on your head." ”

“ When the play is over, the lighted tree is unveiled, and the children who have taken part distribute the presents under the leadership of Santa Claus. Or, if found more practicable, the tree may be placed in another room, and Santa Claus may invite the children of the play and the audience to go with him in search of it. An appropriate tree song may be sung by the whole audience. ”

“ But amongst all the amusements which in cities contribute to make the Christmas time a period of enchantments for the young and happy, there is [247] another, which must not be passed over without a word of special notice; and that one is the theatre,—a world of enchantment in itself. We verily believe that no man ever forgets the night on which as a boy he first witnessed the representation of a play. ”

“ This is such pretty work—it's just like play. And I never really had enough to eat until I came here to live. I tell you it's horrid to be hungry! Then the good Fathers are so kind, and I love the Christmas carols and the chimes—why, I think-163- it's a beautiful place, your Highness. Don't you like to watch the toys grow?
Prince. Oh, they grow so slow. I expected to have a bushelful of new toys every month, and not one have I had yet. And these stingy old Monks say that I can only have my usual Christmas share, anyway, and I mayn't pick them myself, either. ”

“ With such whole-hearted co-operation, nothing is impossible of attainment, and the pleasure of the work more than repays ungrudging lavishment of time, labor, patience, and love.
-1-
THE CHRIST-CANDLE A CHRISTMAS PLAY IN TWO SCENES
CHARACTERS
Hans and Gretel
-3-
THE CHRIST-CANDLE SCENE I Christmas Eve, in the forest near Mother Madelon's cottage. The ground is covered with snow and the little evergreens all about are weighted down with it. Enter Fritz (L.) with his brothers and sisters, laden with holly boughs and evergreens. The boys drag a sled with a small evergreen tree on it. ”

“ On the whole the “new-fangled Christmas” has many points that show an improvement over the old-fashioned Christmas while in all essentials the two remain one and the same.
Some humble members of Father Christmas’ family still surviving to a small extent in London are the “waits” or wandering musicians who play dismal tunes under the windows of the well-to-do in the hopes of obtaining a few pennies.
These are direct descendants from the “jongleurs” or minstrels who in the Middle Ages celebrated the birth of Christ on Christmas night with song and dance.
[183-184]
The Christmas Waits. ”

“ The poor man’s heart through half the year.”
In the thirty-third of Henry, when certain games were forbidden to artificers, husbandmen, apprentices, servants, and others of that class, they were still allowed to play at tables, tennis, dice, cards, bowls, clash, coyting, and logating, at Christmas ”

“ To sit, staring at those fixed glazed eyes, in silence for a moment, would play, Scrooge felt, the very deuce with him. There was something very awful, too, in the spectre’s being provided with an infernal atmosphere of its own. Scrooge could not feel it himself, but this was clearly the case; for though the Ghost sat perfectly motionless, its hair, and skirts, and tassels, were still agitated as by the hot vapour from an oven. ”

“ A great deal of humor can be put into the scene of disappointment over the stockings, especially by the older girls and boy who play the adult parts.
Prepare a double set of stockings, one empty, the other filled; the Brownie carries out the empty ones, and returns with the full ones. As these are not examined on the stage, they may be stuffed with anything that is most convenient. Have in readiness a row of small hooks on the mantel, for hanging them.
For Santa Claus' costume, see note, p. ”

“ This piece of ritual has apparently been attracted to Christmas from an early feast of spring, and Plough Monday, when the East Midland plays take place, is just such an early spring feast. Again, in some places the 301St. George play is performed at Easter, a date alluded to in the title, “Pace-eggers’” or “Pasque-eggers’” play.{13}
Two grotesque figures appear with varying degrees of clearness and with various names in the dances and in the plays—the “fool” (Tommy) who wears the skin and tail of a fox or other animal, and a man dressed in woman's clothes (Bessy) . ”

“ CHRISTMAS BELLS I heard the bells on Christmas Day Their old, familiar carols play, And wild and sweet The words repeat Of peace on earth, good-will to men! ”

“ Father Christmas, Turkish Knight, King of Egypt, St. George, Doctor. Other writers mention similar plays, with variations of characters, as seen in the rural parts of Northamptonshire, Warwickshire, and Staffordshire, and the present writer has himself seen such plays at Madeley, in Shropshire.
S. Arnott, of Turnham Green, writing in Notes and Queries, December 21, 1878, says: "When I was living at Hollington, near Hastings, in the year 1869, the village boys were in the habit of visiting the houses of the gentry at Christmas time to perform a play, which had been handed down by tradition." ”

“ It would be nothing but toys, toys, toys. That is all children think of nowadays, at Christmas, how many toys they are going to get.’
‘I don’t believe all children have so many toys,’ said Mischief. ‘I think if you went with Santa Claus you would see some children who had very little Christmas indeed.’
‘Humph, I don’t,’ answered Merrythought. ‘Think of that sleigh full of toys, enough for the whole world. And I am tired of toys, I tell you. ”

“ One drop trembled upon the wan cheek of the doll. The last sunbeam shot athwart it and made it glisten like a priceless jewel. Its glory grew and filled the room. Gone were the black walls, the darkness and the cold. There was warmth and light and joy. Merry voices and glad faces were all about. A flock of children danced with gleeful shouts about a great Christmas-tree in the middle of the floor. ”

“ But to-night no such notions as these intrude; and when the torrent of fun, and transformation, and practical joking which rushed out of the beautiful fairy world gathered up again, the high-heaped happiness of the theatre will disperse itself, and the Christmas pantomime will be a pleasant memory the whole year through. Thousands on thousands of people are having their midriffs tickled at this moment ”

“ A succession of long-drawn, ecstatic breaths and happy gurgles awoke the passengers on car Floradora at an unseemly hour Christmas morning, and a small white figure, clad informally in a single garment, danced up and down the aisle, dragging carts and woolly lambs behind it. Occasionally there was the squeak of a talking doll, and always there was the patter of small feet and the soft cooing of a child’s voice, punctuated by the exquisite music of a child’s laughter. ”

“ The girls carry garlands of evergreen while the boys carry wreaths of the same. After a spectacular drill and fancy march they all sing a beautiful Christmas song, which accompanies the drill. Following the song they wind a spiral to the center of the stage, unwind same and march off. Complete instructions are given. It is the best Christmas drill ever published; easy to produce and decidedly novel. Price, 15 cents.
PEARL’S CHRISTMAS. Original, pleasing and interesting Christmas dialogue with an excellent moral, for 3 boys and 4 girls. ”

“ If any of the children succeed in being perfectly good children they are given a suitable prize by Santa Claus, and another Santa Claus chosen if it is desired to continue the game.
CHRISTMAS STOCKING
Paint or draw on a sheet the picture of a fireplace. Tack this to the wall and after providing each child with a small stocking and pin, blindfold them in turn, telling them to hang up their stocking at the mantel. Drop a small toy in the stocking of those who succeed before taking the handkerchief from their eyes. Those who fail may have one more turn after all have had a chance. ”