A Christmas Evening. A night to remember! - By Aubrey Joachim

A Christmas Evening. A night to remember! – By Aubrey Joachim

Last Sunday evening a full house of some 225 people were enthralled when they were taken back 2,000 years to re-live the story of the birth of our Saviour Jesus Christ. The Sri Lankan New South Wales Catholic Association’s annual Christmas event was held at the Polish Church and hall in Marayong. The evening commenced with Holy Mass after which the statue of the Baby Jesus was processed from the church to the hall to commence the Nativity enactment on what is – this year, the 800^th anniversary of the Nativity scene.

St. Francis of Assisi had the first nativity scene in a cave near Greccio in Italy. The Nativity scene was created by St. Francis to re-create the landscape of Bethlehem – where Jesus was born some 1,200 years prior. Ever since, the Nativity has become a part of Christian folklore and woven into the spirituality of Christmas. As the years went by music became a part of the event and hence saw the introduction of Christmas carols which related the Bethlehem story in music and verse. Some of the traditional Christmas carols date back to many hundreds of years. Every catholic would reminisce this great enactment during their growing years which also set the scene for the arrival of Santa. Every Catholic educational institution held an annual Christmas carols evening which included a mandatory Nativity play and will be etched vividly in the memory of every Sri Lankan Catholic.

This is what the audience last Sunday was treated to. Following the first scene of the Annunciation which depicts the Angel Gabriel appearing to a Virgin named Mary to tell her that God had chosen Her to be the mother of His Son, the stage curtains opened to pin-drop silence revealing that landscape of Bethlehem. The simple – yet striking stable set against the starry skyline of Bethlehem not only portrayed the poverty into which our Lord Jesus was born, but also the simplicity with which the enactment would follow.

The narrators clearly and lucidly took the audience back in time to Bethlehem. Shepherds watched their flock on the hillside while Mary and Joseph made their way to Bethlehem and found rest in the only available accommodation – the stable of an innkeeper. This was the gripping setting that held the audience spellbound – the very realistic stable, the bundles of hay and the star of Bethlehem shining down on it. The shepherds lazed in the vicinity of the stable while Mary, Joseph and the Baby Jesus lay in the manger. History records the arrival of three wise men from the East who were guided by a star to come and adore the Son of God. To the haunting background musical score ‘We the Kings’ three wise men walked from different locations amongst the audience to converge and make their way to the stable to adore the Baby Jesus and offer their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

The enactment was set to live narration and choreography which included a haunting musical score that included appropriate carols which brought the Bethlehem story to life. The props were well created, the costumes were simple and realistic – not gaudy or ‘blingy’. The sound quality was perfect with the clarity of the audio reaching every corner of the hall. The simplicity of the ‘show’ was stunning and left the audience hanging on every word. The kids rounded it off with their enthusiastic version of ‘We wish you a Merry Christmas’.

The entire 20-minute production was enacted by around 18 disciplined and well trained little children aged 3 years to 14 years trained by the SLNSWCA young adult team of Maliza de Silva, Vinuri and Thanishka Rajanayake and Dinease Fernando. The musical choreography was compiled and managed by Malith de Silva. The script and direction was the effort of the Sri Lankan Chaplain Fr. Treesen Silva. Kudos to the entire team which can be proud of the result. The production would rank amongst the best in the Association’s history and comparable to similar events anywhere!

Following the Nativity, the kids were presented with gifts and certificates for their efforts. The SLNSWCA also recognised some individuals in the community who, over the years, have supported the Association in various ways. Thereafter carols were sung by a number of community choirs all giving of their best voices as well as colourful attire much to the appreciation of the audience. As expected Santa dropped by to mix and mingle with the kids and share some goodwill.

A ‘Christmas Evening’ was also an opportunity to provide the members a social function to wrap up what has been a busy year. To this end a full buffet spread was on offer and also included a traditional Christmas ham. The hall was tastefully decorated with Christmas colour table cloths and a beautiful Christmas themed table piece. Of course a beautiful Christmas tree enjoyed pride of place as well. Following the dinner there was music for dancing and as can be expected at every Sri Lankan event the ‘non-stop’ baila tracks brought the crowd to the floor.

From the many accolades that poured in on the night and soon after in the days that followed as well as the community grapevine, it can be said that ‘A Christmas Evening’ will certainly be a night to remember!

The author has been in Australia for 30 years and is actively involved with the Sri Lankan diaspora.