Christmas preparation

by Ruth Salles

The Christmas angel calls men, animals, plants, stones, water, etc., to help prepare the crib where Jesus will be born. At the end, the poem “O Vilancete”, by Gil Vicente (14th century) is sung with music in a pentatonic scale.

CHARACTERS:
Choir, angel, star, desert, stream, mountain (group); man, Joseph and Mary, plants, ox and donkey, stones (group).

Enter the angel. The others enter when they hear his call and, as they speak, they form the crib: Joseph and Mary sitting in front of the manger; the ox and the donkey at the sides: the man standing, contemplating the scene; the stones in a semicircle, with the arms raised and half bent forward, forming the cave over Joseph and Mary; the mountains, further away, holding hands and arms raised, forming protection against the wind; the sitting plants; the stream and the desert half lying down; the star and the angel standing in the background. After the scene is formed, everyone standing up sings “Vilancete”.

ANGEL:
– I am the angel of Bethlehem.
Christmas night has arrived.
Jesus is coming! Jesus is coming!
I came to prepare this place.
Help everyone! C'mon C'mon!

ALL (entering):
– It is with love that we help!

STAR:
- I am the Star.
I make my light shine,
and everyone comes to see Jesus.

DESERT:
– I am the Desert.
In my sand they will wait for you.

RIBEIRA:
- I'm Ribeira. I give my water.

MOUNTAIN (group):
– I am the Mountain.
From the cold wind I will separate you.

MEN:
- I am a man.
In the manger that I made myself,
will put it.
(showing Joseph and Mary)
And these two, Joseph and Mary,
they will receive it and they will raise it.

PLAN 1:
– I am the Plant.
May my fruit feed you.

PLANT 2:
– I am the Plant. I give the grass,
soft grass where to lay it.

OX:
– I am the Bull.

DUMB:
- I am Donkey.

BOTH:
- In the cold night,
our breath will warm you.

STONE:
- I am the Stone,
and form the cave to house it.

ALL (sing):
“– Worship, mountains,
the god of heights,
also vegetables.
I love deserts
and flowery mountains,
the god of secrets,
the Lord of lives.
grown streams,
praise in the highest
God of creatures.
Praise, groves
of heavy fruit;
say the boulders:
God be praised!
And praise my cattle,
in these vegetables,
the God of heights.”

End