When Joseph beat up Baby Jesus

As a child did you ever read the book or see the TV movie (with Hot Lips from MASH- I'm really dating myself here!) The Best Christmas Pageant Ever? If you haven't and you have a child between 5 and 10 I highly recommend either book or DVD.

It is all about a family of 6 very naughty children who take over the church Christmas play. I was given reason to think of the Herdman kids today when the playschool's very own Ralph Herdman beat up Baby Jesus during the playschool field trip.

We went to Fort Edmonton, which is a historical park. Well, as historical as a city that only just turned 100 a few years ago can get. After we had visited one of the houses where the kids baked cookies, sang songs and made a Christmas ornament using sheep wool we walked next door to the church. The park interpreter said we would tell the story of the birth of Jesus with the children playing all the important roles. All the roles actually. He chose one of the sweet looking little girls to play Mary. A wise choice he made. Then he said to a boy in the front row "You can be Joseph." I looked at him as the boy jumped up and said "Are you sure about that?" Not such a wise choice was made this time.

I posted these photos on facebook earlier and the mother of Mary pointed out that it looked as though Joseph was practicing karate. He may very well have been. Mary is clearly looking over at the interperter and thinking "Dude! Are you crazy!? Do you not know what this kid is capable of?"



This picture was supposed to be of Mary and Joseph journeying to Bethlehem. Mary is no fool and knew that counting on Joseph to get her there was just not on. She was way ahead. Bringing up the rear is the donkey, who was quite pissed off at being a donkey and let her displeasure be known by pretty much refusing to move.


This is quite a sweet picture is it not? Joseph, proudly showing off the newborn Jesus to two shepherds. Don't let the camera fool you! Joseph had already beat on the poor baby Jesus. You could look at it and say it looks as though those 2 shepherds are protecting the baby, but really? I'm pretty sure one of them would have been all for throwing the baby out of the cradle. I had to call out to Joseph by his real name to get him to stop hitting the doll while the story was being told and afterwards I said to the interpreter "So is this the first time Joseph has beat up Baby Joseph?" I was a bit surprised to find out that it was not. Afterwards one of the mum's (Mary's) was telling me that last week he had come to school with scratches all over his face. When she asked what happened he said his sister had done it with a knife. She is two!!! But you know, if that's what he does to her dolls at home, I'm not sure she is entirely to blame. Even if she does look evil.


This is the class, minus the one child who refused to participate at all. My very own angel (who really is compared to Joseph!) is in the left hand corner with the purple sweater. And note Joseph there...I think he is looking at the star that led the wisemen to the stable.