A Christmas fairy tale for young and old
When the donkeys Santino and Marie stood in the manger and Pauli wanted to warm the Christ Child
Every year, the stable for the animal nativity scene in the courtyard is decorated and strewn with a thick layer of straw. There is also great excitement, because the goat Tati and her friends lie down in the straw and upset the order.
Hundreds of large and small red Christmas tree baubles are placed on the stable and on the trees around it, and a huge fir tree is attached to the fence of the living animal nativity scene. "Ouch, every year the same!" exclaims Sepp, because he has hammered his thumb. His face turns red and he wants to scold, but you can't scold in a manger. The Christ Child is born and the little angels are already hovering in the sky. Scolding is not allowed at all. "Can I help you, Sepp?" asks Marie, the donkey timidly. "You'd better leave him alone, Marie!" grumbles Mr. Fridolin, the donkey.
Endless strings of lights are wrapped around the tree. "It's quite amazing how people climb up a tree. Interesting," says the little squirrel and watches Sepp as he lets himself be hoisted up by an electric jack to attach the fairy lights. It has to be nice and bright so that the angels can find their way to the manger.
Sepp rolls into the courtyard with a big car and Maria helps him unload wooden figures. All around, the donkeys stand with open mouths, the goats hold their heads crooked, the ponies look around in wonder and Vulkan, a former police horse, whinnies "Strange, what's going on there?
"Iaaaaaaaaaaaaah! Look at all those lights. Well, Joseph and Mary must find the manger there. Look Santino, have you seen this before? So many lights!", Johnny the donkey is all excited. Santino puts his ears up and says "No, I haven't. What are they building here? These are such big wooden figures. They look like people who don't move. Strange. Very strange." Santino frowns, but then walks on to Batzi and Hermes. The two deer should also find out what mysterious things are happening at the farm.
Christ Child is sheltered from the wind. Fits. Oh... what's that? Pauli, that's where the Christ Child will lie, not you. Go away, quickly! What a thing! Quick as a flash, the fat tomcat Pauli dashes around the corner and meows: "What a pity, it was so nice and cosy in the straw. Hm, well. We'll see".
More and more animals come from all sides and stand around the fence. With a sleepy look, little pony Chris asks: "Is there anything to eat here?". "Your belly is big enough anyway, Chris. Tomorrow is Christmas Eve, the Christ Child will come. Lots of children will be flocking to the farm to see the Christ Child!" says Romeo, the little pony, in a dark, quiet, mysterious voice. "No, that's not true at all. I guess it's lockdown again and no one is allowed to come visit. I'm really sad that my dear friends haven't been allowed to be here for so long," says Chris the little pony.
The animals watch Sepp and Maria at work with great devotion. There, they pluck and fold the fabric. At some point, peace returns.
Slowly it gets dark, thousands of little lights go on. It is very quiet. No more donkeys call out "Iah", no more ponies "neigh" and no more goats "bleat". Mario calls the donkeys together: "Let's go to the stable. Tomorrow we have to be well rested and take care of the Christ Child.
Countless stars are in the firmament, guarding the animal nativity scene at the farm. It even begins to snow lightly.
At dawn, the animals gather in front of the manger. It is brightly lit. In the little straw bed, under the blanket, something moves and donkey Joe whispers: "Psst, the Christ Child is sleeping".
This year, unfortunately, no visitors stroll through the courtyard...Maria, the caretaker, goes to the manger once more to check on things. She stands there, her eyes widening, her mouth open and she cries out in horror: "Where is Joseph, where is Maria?" Four innocent donkey eyes look towards her. Donkey Santino explains, "Saint Joseph was so tired and went to sleep. I got his coat and now I am guarding the little Christ child!". Suddenly, Saint Mary in donkey form speaks up: "Yes, and Saint Mary also wanted to sleep and put her coat on me," whispers Marie the donkey timidly.
Mary has to smile and plucks at the coats. Suddenly she notices two cat ears in the little straw bed. She takes the thick blanket away and Pauli meows: "Yes, and I lay down with the Christ Child, because it's so cold here! The Christ Child needs to be warm and cosy! Maria strokes Pauli the fat cat and says: "It's all right. It's Christmas. A special Christmas!
Maxime, the humpbacked goose, sings the most beautiful Christmas song in the world. All the animals sing along loudly and look into the manger. The camels Adi, Bibi and Mali join in quietly. They stretch their long necks over the fence towards the Christ Child and cat Pauli and wink at each other.
This is how "SILENT NIGHT, HOLY NIGHT!" sounds across the Gut Aiderbichl farm.
Let's see what the animals will tell us next Christmas. You know, animals can talk at Christmas. Hopefully there will be lots of visitors again next year.
Merry Christmas, Gisela
