РІЗДВЯНЕ ДІЙСТВО  	

	THE ENCHANTED CHRISTMAS TREE	

Ladies and gentlemen!
Glad to greet you here, in our school hall!
For years we celebrate many different holidays. Christmas is one of the most important feasts that warms everybody with faith, hope, love. This holiday is celebrated all over the world and we all know that every country has its own traditions. Nevertheless all started from the same event. As old saying goes: “There is no future without past”. So let’s go back to 2500 years ago…

Long, long days ago a decree from Caesar Augustus was read before the people in all cities and towns of Judea: “Citizens of Nazareth! Caesar Augustus has ordered that all of you must be counted and taxed. Each of you must journey to the city of your fathers immediately to fulfill this decree.”
All went to be counted and Joseph, the carpenter, with his wife Maria also went to the town of Bethlehem.
What is it?
--I need a room for the night, sir. My wife and I are very tired.
--Go away! As you can see there is no room for you in this small inn.
And so it was that Maria and Joseph had to spend the night in a little stable that was no more than a cave in the hill behind the inn. While they were there Maria gave birth to her son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger.
There were shepherds in the same country keeping watch over their flocks in the darkness.
--It is a beautiful clear night for December.
--Yes, it is. And I think the sky is getting brighter. Look!
--Don’t be afraid. I am the Angel of the Lord. I brought you good tidings of great joy! This night in Bethlehem a Savior has been born to you and you will be the first to visit him. You will find him wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.
--Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this newborn child.
The shepherds hastened to Bethlehem and found the baby in a manger just as the Angel had told them. 
The shepherds were not the only people abroad on that special night. Three kings from far distant lands were near the village of Bethlehem. They had been following the star many months.
--Where is the newborn King of all people? There is his star that we have followed. He must be near. The new King will be pleased with my gift of gold.
--Perhaps we should seek him in a palace. He is the King. He is the son of the God. I am bringing frankincense. That is a gift for the God himself.
--Look over there. I believe the star is pointing to that poor stable. The baby must truly be the man as well as the God since he dwells in humble surrounding.
We know nothing about further visitors to the stable on that first Christmas. But the Christmas night is one of magic after all.
This is the end of recorded and unrecorded events that happened on that happiest night in Bethlehem. The joy of that single birth remains with us still and will remain so long as people have ears to hear and hearts to love.
Christmas…
A beautiful time of the year
With carols and tinsel
And lots of good cheer,
With sharing and caring
And hearts drawing here.
Christmas…
A beautiful time of the year.
Yes, it’s true that Christmas is a very joyful and beautiful holiday. And everybody likes it.  I’m sure you know much about this holiday but it will be interesting for you to see these heroes on our stage.  
  	Daughter:
Come and see our Christmas tree
We brought it home today.
We set it in the living room
And trimmed it right away. 
Silver bells and blinking lights
Displayed all in row-
Paper chains and candy canes
And Christmas balls that glow.
Son:
Little toy drums, tah-rum-tah-rum
And drummers in bright suits.
Angels heralding the news
On bugles roo-tah-tah- too-tah-too
     	Father:
Here is our great big sheaf of
Grandpa’s wheat in my hand.
All the kernels symbolize
The gathering of our clan.
Wisps of hay are spread beneath
A table cloth adorned
To remind us of the place
Where Jesus Christ was born.
     	Mother:
Supper time is near!
Johnny, go to the window and wait
For the first star to appear.
    	 Author:
Johnny watched most carefully
Until his head bowed silently.
Suddenly there came a noise
As Grandpa Sheaf burst into voice.
     	Sheaf:
Ha-ha, ha-ha, hee, hee, hee-
An Enchanted Christmas tree!
      	Author:
The star from the sky came with a zoom
To crown the tree in our living room.
And angel choir began to sing, 
Chains and bells began to ring.

Then we heard the marching drum.

       	Author:
All the animals are jumping down,
Start dancing ‘round and ‘round,
As the tree is rocking to and fro
Smiling with a great glow.
They are happy as can be
Rocking ‘round the Christmas tree.
( The animals are dancing around the tree).
        	 Author:
Johnny is awaking and rubbing his eyes
Looking around in great surprise.
      	Son:
Mama! Mama! Come and see!
The star has landed on our tree!
     	 Mama:
Oh, dear child! Come to me.
It’s time to join the family.
      	Father:
Johnny, no, not there.
Don’t take an empty chair.
It’s in memory of one departed.
Move one over and let’s get started.
In the window let a candle shine
To welcome a needy one to dine.
To kolach you see with another light
Is the festive bread this Holy night.
Now let’s bow our heads and pray
And ask the Lord to bless this day.

        	OUR FATHER
OUR FATHER, 
Who art in Heaven,
Hallowed be Thy Name.
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done on earth 
As it is in Heaven.
Give us this day
Our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those
who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil. Amen.
      	Grandfather:
The aroma of cooking wheat
Dressed with honey and with poppy seed.
We must have twelve meatless dishes
Each of them will be delicious.
Twelve Apostoles we’ll recall
Like the icon on our wall.
        	Author:
Johnny notes that the tree
Keeping an eye on the family,
So he is sampling every food
As tradition says he should:
Wheat, borsch, fish, pyrohy,
Holubtsi, mushrooms, herrings,
Cabbage, beans, kolach, fruit.
       	Daughter:
One, two, three, four,
Five, six, seven, eight,
Nine, ten, eleven.
 Wait a minute!
There is dessert that mother prepared.
It’s pampushky-I just know
Every year we have it so.
       	Grandmother:
Carolers are at our door!
We ask them in to sing some more.
         	Carolers:
CHRIST IS BORN!
       	Family:
PRAISE TO HIM!