Walking in Bethlehem

Have you heard of the Bethlehem Walk?

http://www.bethlehemwalk.ca/

We are a Christian family who also embrace the more "fun" aspects of the season, like Santa, Elves, Reindeer, etc.  But I have been finding that all of the activities that we seem to do really rotate around the more commercial aspects of Christmas, and it's very important to us that we strike a balance.

I remember seeing a flyer for the Bethlehem Walk last year, but we had already missed it, so it was on our to-do list this year. 

I wasn't entirely sure what to expect.  We got there just before the start time, and already there was an hour long wait!  We hadn't bundled the kids up yet, so we did that in the cold, cold line lol.  Ashton didn't seem to mind. 

Eleda will take any opportunity when Ashton isn't in the stroller to hop into it.  Turns out Alan carried Ashton the whole time, and I pushed the giant three-year-old in the stroller.

 Once it was our turn we were brought before King Harrod as we were Jews being ordered to return to our birthplaces to pay our taxes, just as Mary and Joseph were that fateful night.  We were then assigned a family name and brought into the church where a band was playing and everyone was invited to sing along.  The quality of these photos is poor, but I wanted to capture some of the feeling.  This little mouse fellow was HILARIOUS.  He provided some comic relief between songs.

This lovely Roman guard came in and called the families one by one to commence their journey.  Surly fellow, that one.  A little tax-obsessed, if you ask me.

The walk was really great.  At each little "station" there was a fire at which we could warm ourselves while meeting various people on our way to Bethlehem.  We met a very pregnant Mary with her husband, these Angels foretold of the Christchild's birth.

Once in Bethlehem we paid our taxes, and stumbled upon the manger where the newborn baby Jesus was. 

It sort of trailed off at the end with a cross to signify the Cruicifiction, and the empty tomb after He had risen... since these have nothing to do with Christmas we were a little confused, but the cross did make for a pretty picture.

I believe the walk is over for this year, but if you have the chance to do it in the future I totally recommend it!