O Little Town
A census was conducted in Bethlehem on Monday, finding the town was home to 116 families, several marketplace vendors and some surly Roman soldiers.
The scrolls documenting the city's inhabitants were signed at First United Methodist Church in Butler during the church's first A Night in Bethlehem program.
Church members and volunteers came together to create a family experience, allowing visitors a taste of what life may have been like around the time of Jesus' birth.
Prior to descending upon the recreated marketplace, participants gathered in the church's sanctuary for a reading of the Christmas story and music performed by church youths.
"You are here to be counted and to pay taxes!" A Roman soldier shouted as an abrupt ending to the low-key holiday program.
As families filed out of the sanctuary, they were funneled through the census area, where registration was recorded and commemorative family photos taken.
Entering the marketplace, tents covered each shop. Vendors wore long, flowing robes adorned with long sashes.
Beggars shook coin-filled cups begging for assistance from passers-by, and welcoming vendors invited children to stop by and learn their trades.
At the ropemaking tent, children chose from silken fibers or rough twine. Strands were folded in half and suspended between two dowels.
At one end, the vendor twisted the twine while a child held the other end taut, twisting in the opposite direction.
When the twine had been twisted tightly, the dowels were brought together, at which point the strand spun around itself into a sturdy rope.
The history relating each craft to Bethlehem's history was provided by Group, a publishing company for church ministry programs and curriculum.
An essential craft for residents of Bethlehem, rope was used not only for work and household utility, but as a makeshift belt for those unable to afford sashes and other expensive clothing.
For Jonah Lentz of Butler, who was visiting Bethlehem with his parents, however, the small rope also made a pretend mustache.
For perfumer Lori Campbell, studying the background information for her booth provided some insight into the lives of the Bethlehem residents she was imitating.
"It was interesting to learn about the history of this," she said.
During the event, youths chose from lavender, peppermint, cinnamon, rosemary, cedar rose, ginger, frankincense, myrrh and other spices.
With a mortar and pestle, spices were ground, releasing their pungent aromas and creating a blended mix of scents.
Those ingredients were mixed with olive oil in vials to create personalized perfumes.
In addition to the perfumes that would double as deodorants, Campbell learned that some scents were used as insect repellent or were applied to the head or feet of a guest as a show of honor.
"On hot days they would serve their perfumed water,"she said.In addition to the smell of lavender and cinnamon, the aroma of freshly baked bread wafted through the marketplace.Children crouched on the floor using stones to grind grain into flour, a task that for some devoted participants, took more than an hour."It's fun, but I wouldn't want to have to do this," said Lori Nagle, the grain shop vendor.Since making bread from start to finish would take hours, freshly baked bites of unleavened bread were served to complement the theme.In addition to the warm bites of bread, families also passed by a farmer's market to sample produce common to the region.Carrie Wilson served up pomegranate seeds, apples, grapes, olives, almonds, dried figs, dates and nectarines to crowds of willing taste testers."I had to do a little research,"said Wilson, who had also never cut into a pomegranate before.At another booth, each family used glue and tiny tiles to create mosaics atop small wooden treasure boxes.According to the background information given to the actors, mosaics were used by ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans as a way to decorate their homes and other buildings.Tying the market to the season was a stable, tucked back away from the crowds of people, where the List family served as a live Nativity."It's great fun,"said Jonathan, portraying Joseph.Seated beside his wife, Carrie, who was portraying Mary, and 3-month-old son Xeno, the family found the experience relaxing despite the bustling crowds just outside their protected stable."We just get to sit here and love (Xeno) like we usually do,"said Carrie.Chosen to portrayMary, Joseph and Jesus based on the age of Xeno, the List family took the time to think about the lives of those they were portraying."It's not the sterile world we live in,"said Jonathan.As families wandered around the marketplace, they collected pieces to a child's Nativity scene, one of several keepsakes of the evening.They also took with them a new understanding of the world where the first Christmas took place."This is wonderful," said Michelle Lentz of Butler as she moved from one market to the next."What a wonderful way to celebrate the birth of our savior."
