The idea was born a year ago when Scott Bateman asked me if I wanted Italilan cypress trees for the Christmas party. But last year was "Feliz Navidad". So, no Italian cypress for me. I mulled it over all year, and around the first of October the idea was born: buon natale!
As I browsed through ideas from other blogs, I found a photo that inspired me: long banquet tables lined up with red tablecloths and strings of Christmas lights above, scattered with paper lanterns. From there, I googled Italian Christmas traditions and menus, and came up with my plan. "Precipe Vivente", or live nativities somehow captured my interest. They sound like just the right combination of the department store window displays in Union Square that I remember from my childhood, and the community nativities that churches in Santa Monica put up in Palisades Park.
Our Ward building is one of the few that is actually architecturally beautiful. I do prefer Mediterranean architecture, but still, our building has niches, arches, courtyards and wrought iron that combine into my idea of beauty. The one thing the architect got right was the aesthetic! A torchlight procession to view live nativities, each scene in a niche on the side of the church building! I dreamt about it. I planned for weeks. Then I started passing around the sign-up sheets. Only two takers. The shepherds were taken care of easily, but how do you have a nativity without the "holy family"?
In the end, it all worked out. The Relief Society presidency created centerpieces with a neighbor's pine tree trimmings, some pinecones, vases with red mylar shreds, mini ornaments and, the real inspiration, a picture of the resurrected Christ. I was running around all day getting the last few things together, as the women worked. When I came back from Smart and Final with the peppermint and vanilla ice cream, the tables were done, and I saw the pictures of Christ. I blinked back tears. I knew that somehow it would work, and the Spirit would attend our party.
We had Parmesan chicken, pasta and salad for dinner, then everyone went into the chapel to sing Christmas carols until it was their turn to take a walk through the Christmas story.
For too many years, I have sat at the back of the cultural hall where I could neither see nor hear the Christmas program. So, as many people complained about having to go outside for the program ( come on, we live in southern California. Some Christmas days have topped 80 degrees!), I argued that with only 15 to 20 people per group outside, there would be no such thing as a bad seat, and the walk would be fast. The weather cooperated, and I got my way.
As the viewers visited each scene, starting with Mary's visit from the angel Gabriel, they were transported. We had costumes, scenery, music, and wisemen that questioned, "do you seek him?"
Finally, back inside, the most beautiful little naked baby was smiling in the manger while his angelic three year-old sister danced around the stage to harp music (dressed in Heather's old Santa Lucia nightgown), and their proud parents beamed. I thought that the audiance would come in from the cold, and smile and nod at the family as they made a bee-line for the homemade Christmas cookies and ice cream at the back of the cultural hall.
But I was wrong. They stood there, transfixed.
Scott turned the stage into an Eden. But the Morgan family elevated it to a glimpse of heaven.
And we had a party that started with Santa, but ended with the true meaning of Christmas: remembering Christ.
