Here at Sacred Heart Villa, traditions play an important part of our legacy. The annual Christmas pageant is one of these long-standing traditions though it is not a typical, simple preschool show. One proud parent after seeing it on Saturday, December 10th referred to it as a “production in the true sense of the word. I was blown away by those amazing costumes, the great singing, the rhyming script, the synchronizing of passing the microphones, and the movement of the children on and off the stage!” A grandparent who is a retired teacher said, “It was spectacular! It was like nothing I have seen before, and I have seen a lot of Christmas shows in my day.” Some guests were so moved by the darling children’s enthusiasm, hard work and incredible performance, they were moved to tears!
What makes The Villa’s Christmas pageant so special? There are several features that makes our show unique. First, the PreK and kindergarten students perform the songs and say their lines with little direction from the teachers during the performance. The hours of practicing the 13 songs and the rhyming script paid off! The children perform beautifully and confidently. Second, the school has some incredible costumes we have used for many years. Some were made by the Sisters and some were purchased. This year we improved on our sheep costumes thanks to Sr. Christine. Third, the rhyming script written by Karen Jaeger and Sr. Bridget is all about Christ’s birth, the true “reason for the season.” Another part of this pageant’s tradition are certain unique scenes that are incorporated. A living Advent wreath starts off the performance. John the Baptist announces, “Prepare the way of the Lord.” Angel Gabriel appears to young Mary. (These two characters have the most beautiful costumes.) Mary rides on the back of a near life size stuffed animal donkey which Joseph pulls across the stage. (This donkey is a one of a kind.) Darling shepherds carrying stuffed animal sheep eagerly seek out the newborn king. Three Wisemen travel so far in their elegant long capes and crowns. The humble drummer boy makes an appearance near the end. The shows finale includes with another tradition: the whole group of PreK and Kindergarten students lively singing Feliz Navidad while shaking bells.
The play will be performed one more time for the younger children in the school on December 20th. We hope the children will forever treasure their performance of The Villa’s Christmas pageant. We meet graduates of the school years later who proudly tell us what their part in the Christmas pageant was and can still recite their lines! They are always excited to hear that we still perform a Christmas show so the tradition continues.