Miniature Minstrels and the Message of Christmas

As the school year gets ready for Christmas break (yes, Christmas break and not holiday break or Winter solstice) children seem to sense with hopeful expectation the time off from school and the coming of the red-suited Mr. Claus.  School music teachers have worked hard for weeks to put together a choral event for the parents and as a first grader at Pinelock Elementary, I remember attending in a red sweater vest knitted by my aunt.  I can’t remember the songs but I am sure they were a mixture then of secular and religious Christmas carols.  Parents set up elaborate video machines so they can remember little Johnny or Susie singing their heart out.  Some children fidget around while others are so shy they mouth the words hoping to blend in with the others.  It makes no difference to the parent; they just love watching their prodigy from the auditorium.  I am sure over the decades since I sang in my red sweater vest the programs have shifted from mostly Christian to mostly secular with the motivation of “so we don’t offend anyone”.  Those who change the focus of Christmas would never think of tinkering with other religious holidays, i.e. Ramadan, Chanukah, Yom Kippur, Rosh Hashanah, but target the celebration for the birth of Christ for ridicule and derision. 

 In 1965, A Charlie Brown’s Christmas debuted on CBS and amidst the activities of the other children, Charlie Brown yells out, and “Can anyone tell me the real meaning of Christmas?”  Linus tells Charlie Brown from Scriptures:

            And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their 
            flock by  night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord
           shone round about  them:   and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear
           not: for, behold, I bring you  good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto
           you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a
           sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And
           suddenly there was with the angel a   multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and
           saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
           (Luke  2:8-14 KJV)

            One of the many secular songs which children sing is We Wish You A Merry Christmas.   
            This old song of Victorian England wishes good tidings from carolers who would receive a
            payment of figgy pudding  according to one source (ehow.com) much like American children 
            get a treat on Halloween.  The angels pronounced a good tiding of great joy to the shepherds as
           well as to all of mankind.   Wouldn’t it be amazing to see moms and dads hear these miniature
           minstrels the Message of Christ.