There were pigs in my daughter’s
Nativity Play. She told me
as much weeks ago, but I finally saw for myself last night. They are part of a
cast of anthropomorphised animals that decide to stay awake to see the arrival
of their presents.
Santa Claus is not mentioned, but the surprise
birth of
Christ will occur that very night in the animals’ manger…. So, let’s get this
straight. The animals, which include the only domesticated pink pigs in first
century Judea, are excited about celebrating a
Christmas that hasn’t been
invented yet.
What I am describing is Caroline
Hoile’s “Cockadoodle Christmas”, a musical created for three to seven year
olds, containing eight original songs. With weird surreal convolutions and
contradictions in the plot, it is a very apt representation of
Church of
England religious culture.
