Thursday 21 December 2023

Pageants and Recitals

This is the season of concerts and recitals as well as pageants usually presented by young children. All choirs start from September rehearsing their Christmas music, especially carols, which they would also perform during Christmas services in churches. Miniature oratorios or selections from Handel’s ‘Messiah’ are often performed at this time of the year. Children’s choirs are also becoming quite popular, and they frequently participate in the Novena (9 days) leading to the celebration of Christmas.

On the other hand, Pageants are presented in halls and churches, often with a commentary and music, while the children act the part, without any speaking parts. The main characters are Mary and Joseph, the three Kings, of course baby Jesus, usually a doll wrapped up in clothing, while those with no part are dressed as angels, if they are girls, and as shepherds, if they are boys. This means there is usually a multitude of angels with feathered wings and plenty of shepherds holding a walking stick. Two boys are usually chosen to be a donkey and a cow, and a few little ones become lambs to complete the symmetry of the Nativity.

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