Parties and Puppet Shows

This is a picture of the gym where the children at Sergei Posad celebrated the holidays. When the Communists were in power in Russia they tried to destroy Church traditions and do away with the celebration of Christ's birth. The big winter celebration then focused on New Year's Eve with presents brought by Grandfather Frost (who looks a lot like Santa Claus in a blue suit!) and his granddaughter, the Snow Maiden. Children dance around the tree and sing a special song in hopes that if they sing well enough that Grandfather Frost will bring them presents. (Sometimes Grandfather Frost looks a lot like West Virginia Volunteers in Mission in blue smurf sweatshirts!) We didn't get to dance around this tree with the children at Sergei Posad Psychological but we did get to present the premier of the puppet show "The Talking Totem Pole). Rev. Chris Arveson adapted the story, had it translated to Russian and then read all the parts onto a tape. We learned how to work the puppets to coordinate with the taped Russian dialog and presented the show at the various orphanages we visited during our two-week stay. The story was about a little boy who was cruel to animals. He is captured by Bear and taken before the animal council, led by the Squirrel Chief. The animals decide that the little boy should be imprisoned for his bad deeds but then Squirrel Chief forgives him and lets him go. My character, Nawaca, is the mother of the little boy and his sister and she explains that God's love for us is like that and that is why we celebrate the birth of Christ at this time of year.

After the show was over we went out into the audience with the puppets and let the children hug and kiss the puppets (and the puppeteers!). It was great.