Donkeys star in Cawston’s walking nativity

A record number of villagers joined in with Cawston’s walking nativity as two real donkeys took part for the first time in four years.
 

Photo: Simon Court

 
In what has now become a village tradition, local residents took to the streets on Sunday 15 December wearing dressing gowns, improvised angel-wings and tea-towel headdresses as they re-enacted Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem.
 
This year, following an appeal in the local paper, villagers were joined by a pair of donkeys, Jack and Lulu, along with owner Karen Rust from Sculthorpe.
 
The event started at Cawston primary school, where everyone got into their costumes. As the story of the nativity was retold, the assembled cast wended their way to the village pub, the Bell Inn, where they found there was no room in the inn.
 
Fortunately, the landlady allowed the villagers in for refreshments. The event finished with carols in the church as the first nativity figures were place in the crib scene.
 
Team vicar Revd Andrew Whitehead said: “The walking nativity is now a firm fixture in Cawston’s Christmas calendar.
 
“It’s so much fun for everyone to get involved and even the adults seem to like dressing up. It’s great to take the story of Christmas out onto the streets.
 
“The addition of live donkeys this year was truly magical and we’re so grateful to Karen for bringing Jack and Lulu to be part of the day.
 
“I’m sure the donkeys helped to bring in even more people than ever to this year’s event, with over 70 people taking part.”
 
To find out more about Christmas events at Cawston Parish Church, please visit the Facebook page or contact Revd Andrew Whitehead on 01603 872236.
 

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