Our ward tried something new this year for its Christmas party. We did a “night in Bethlehem” theme, as suggested by one of the ladies in the ward. There was a lot of behind-the-scenes that went into, and it really showed as we arrived at the church. The members had been asked to wear clothing that more closely resembled what would have been worn at that time. We didn’t have a whole lot to work with, having never been to the Middle East on vacation. In the end, we looked like wanna-be Greeks during rush week, what with our sheet and blanket togas, but at least we tried.
All the chairs had been removed from the chapel and replaced with wooden crates covered in rust-colored blankets. These were the rocks we could sit on. The only light came from the tiny white Christmas lights strung all over the ceiling, to resemble stars in the night sky. But that wasn’t the best part. It was cool but not blow your mind awesome. That reaction was for the two huge murals that were hung up on either side of the room. My friend J. is an artist. And she often donates her talent to a good cause, namely our ward. She painted these gigantic murals; one was of shepherds abiding in the fields, complete with sheep, and one was of the actual city of Bethlehem. So amazing. Each family got to stand in front of either one and had their picture taken. Then the ward printed them out and gave them to everyone the Sunday right after Christmas.
We sang some Christmas carols, Nicholas read Luke, Ch. 2, and then we ate! They had three different tables set up. The one in the middle had a cloth roof and wooden support beams, very cool. 
There were simple rolls, cookies, crackers, olives, meat, cheese, raw vegetables and even a chocolate fountain. (perhaps not historically accurate, but delicious, nonetheless) To get a drink you walked over to an adjoining classroom and got water from the well, which was a large thermos they had covered with brown paper “bricks”. There was also a bag for each person containing an actual wooden dreidel and all the pieces necessary to play the game, including instructions.
Another lady in the ward had sewn some simple, but gorgeous, costumes for the Primary children to wear while they acted out the Nativity. Another woman had rounded up things like vests and cool hats for the shepherds to wear. I am simply amazed at all the effort people went to, to make this night so incredible. The kids were, as usual, adorable. I mean, honestly, Sunbeams dressed as fluffy white sheep? Who can resist that level of cuteness?
There was much chatting, eating and general merrymaking going on. People kind of broke off into groups of closer friends, but there was also a lot of going-from-one-group-to-another happening as well. And when it was all over, everyone just sort of pitched in and took it all down, to get ready for church the next day. That was almost as much fun as the party itself! I really hope we can do it again in a few years.