Christmas Kids
4:00
Barrett Golding
Second-graders tell the many Holiday strories.
Broadcast: Dec 25 2003 on NPR Day to Day Subjects: Youth, Holidays, Religious
Profile: Second-graders' account of what really happened in Bethlehem when Jesus was born
December 25, 2003 from Day to Day
ALEX CHADWICK, host: I'm Alex Chadwick. This is DAY TO DAY.
If you think you know all there is to know about the story of Christmas, listen to a moment from our archives. Nineteen years ago producer Barrett Golding visited a group of second-graders in Bozeman, Montana. He went to Mrs. Beasley's(ph) classroom at the Irving School, and he gathered these explanations for what really happened in the little town of Bethlehem.
(Soundbite of music)
Children: (Singing) On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me a partridge in a pear tree. On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...
Unidentified Child #1: God wanted Jesus to be born, and that's why we have Christmas off. The first time when Jesus was born, that was on Christmas Eve.
Unidentified Child #2: And Joseph and--what's her name again?
Unidentified Child #3: Mary.
Unidentified Child #2: Mary--traveled to the town...
Unidentified Child #4: Bethlehem.
Unidentified Child #2: ...a town named Bethlehem.
Unidentified Child #5: J-O-S-E-P-H. That's my little brother's name, so I know how to spell it.
Unidentified Child #6: God told the angel to tell Mary and Joseph to have Jesus, so they did. And when they got to the town of Bethlehem, she was about to have him. There was no room in the top, so they had to go...
Unidentified Child #7: It was a stable.
Unidentified Child #6: ...to the stable.
Unidentified Child #8: This one little hay place where animals lived, and she had the baby there.
Unidentified Child #9: Jesus is real special to everybody.
Unidentified Child #10: And then when Jesus was born, then a lot of people gathered up to see him and prayed.
Unidentified Child #11: Well, this kid named Jeremy, he followed great big star and Jesus by going over to it. And then when he was on his way, he met three kings on the camels.
Unidentified Child #12: Christmas is Jesus' birthday, and Santa Claus come and bring the toys to...
Unidentified Child #13: And...
Unidentified Child #14: And Santa comes down in a sleigh.
Unidentified Child #15: Santa Claus live in North Pole.
Unidentified Child #16: With his reindeer.
Unidentified Child #14: Yes, white beard with--he wears a black belt and red pants and a red suit.
Unidentified Child #17: He's big and fat...
Unidentified Child #14: ...and mittens.
Unidentified Child #17: ...and wears red suit with black pants.
Unidentified Child #18: And Santa Claus knows everything.
Unidentified Child #19: Grandma and people put it under their Christmas tree, and Santa comes and then picks them up and then brings them to your house.
Unidentified Child #20: And his elves make them for him, for little kids and stuff.
Unidentified Child #21: Santa goes buy from toy shop.
Unidentified Child #22: And me and my brother get up at about 6:00 in the morning just to get our presents. And at Christmas night you can set out cookies and drinks for Santa.
Unidentified Child #23: You get your mom and dad something and your stepdad, if you have one.
Unidentified Child #24: Toys for babies and brothers and big sisters. And you get something for your moms and stuff. I mean, you could look in your stockings, and you have chocolate stuff in there and then Christmas is over.
(Soundbite of music)
Children: ...five golden rings...
CHADWICK: That piece was produced by Barrett Golding, and it comes to DAY TO DAY courtesy of the Hearing Voices radio project.
(Soundbite of music)
Children: ...and a partridge in a pear tree.
CHADWICK: This is DAY TO DAY. I'm Alex Chadwick.
