Oberufer Christmas Play
The Star Song
My dear singers, gather together
like doughnuts in a pan.
My dear singers, gather together in a circle,
let us pass the time with singing.
My dear singers, begin bravely,
let us raise our voices in greeting.
Let us greet God the Father on his highest throne
and let us also greet his only son.
Let us greet the Holy Spirit by name
and let us greet all three of them together.
Let us greet Joseph and Mary
and let us greet the little child.
Let us also greet the ox and the donkey
who stand by the manger.
Let us greet them through the sun and moonlight
that shines over the sea and over the Rhine.
Let us greet them through the leaves and grass
that the holy rain makes wet for us and for you all.
Let us greet the emperor with the crown,
let us greet the master who can make it.
Let us greet our spiritual lords
because they have allowed us to learn the play.
Let us greet the judge with his oath,
because they are worthy of honor.
And let us greet the entire honorable congregation
all as they are gathered here.
Let us greet the entire honorable council
as God has ordained it. Let us greet them through all the spices,
as many as there are on earth. —
My dear singers, let us begin differently,
let us begin by greeting the star.
Let us greet our starry pole
on which our star hangs.
Let us greet our star
around which our star revolves.
Let us also greet all the little trees
as many as there are in the stars. —
My dear singers, you have heard me well
that we have sung to the star.
Let us greet our master singer well
and greet the master singer's hat.
Let us greet our teacher indeed
because he has taught us with God's help.
My dear singers, you have heard me well,
that we have sung all this. Upon entering the hall, they sing:
May God bless our entrance
[And our exit as well,
Bless our daily bread,
Bless our deeds and actions.
Bless us with a blessed death
and make us heirs to heaven.]
The Oberufer Nativity Play
THE COMPANY CONTINUES ITS PROCESSION AND SINGS:
When the gracious God,
wanted to fulfill his word
he sent an angel quickly,
named Gabriel
to the land of Galilee
to the city of Nazareth,
where he found a virgin,
named Mary,
Joseph never knew her
but she trusted him. THE COMPANY DEPARTS, ONLY MARY REMAINS BEHIND. THE ANGEL GABRIEL ENTERS, STANDS BEFORE THE VIRGIN AND SPEAKS:
Hail, thou fairest of women!
The Lord God is with you!
For you are blessed among women!
For you will conceive
and bear a son,
whom you shall name Jesus!
And he will be lord over his people forever. MARY SPEAKS:
How can this be?
For I do not know a man. THE ANGEL SPEAKS:
Behold, I am the angel Gabriel,
who brings you tidings:
the power of the Most High will overshadow you,
therefore the holy one to be born of you
will be called the Son of God.
And behold, Elizabeth, your friend,
is also pregnant with a son in her old age,
and is already in her sixth month,
she who was said to be barren,
for with God all things are possible. MARY SPEAKS:
Behold, I am the Lord's servant,
let it be done to me according to your word. THE ANGEL DEPARTS. MARY REMAINS. THE COMPANY CONTINUES ITS PROCESSION.
Mary joins them. All sing:
Because Mary went pregnant
in the month of August,
when the prophecy came true,
no one could argue:
the emperor decreed
that everyone should be counted,
that was commanded.
So everyone went to the place
and to the city of their birth
and were found obedient. THE COMPANY DEPARTS. THE ANGEL GABRIEL RETURNS. THE ANGEL SPEAKS:
I enter without mockery,
God give you a beautiful good evening,
a beautiful good evening, a blissful time,
which the Lord from heaven gives us.
Honorable, wise, gracious lords,
also virtuous ladies and maidens in all earnestness
please do not be annoyed,
listen for a little while.
What we are about to bring you
is not invented by us,
nor is it conceived by pagans,
but is fulfilled in the Holy Scriptures,
namely the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ,
which has come to us as a comfort,
Therefore, if you wish to hear it in peace,
be silent and listen to us attentively.
AB. THE COMPANY. MEL. FROM HEAVEN HIGH ETC. Emperor Augustus imposes the first census on everyone, so Joseph sets off with Mary, the tender virgin. From Nazareth to the land of Judea to his city called Bethlehem. As they now come to Bethlehem Mary gives birth to her son. ALL EXIT, ONLY MARY AND JOSEPH REMAIN, WHO SPEAKS:
Emperor Augustus has issued a decree
that every man shall be taxed
under penalty of death for all? heads in general
shall be ready to pay the tribute.
Because all the money in my hand
was used for our necessities,
I have not a penny at my disposal at this time.
May God be blamed for such misery.
I know of no way to obtain money.
My strength has diminished,
I no longer know how to practice my craft.
which pains me greatly,
but I will pay the tribute
with Augustus's consent. MARY SINGS:
O Joseph, rest a little
I will speak to a friend tomorrow morning;
to borrow the money for the tax
so we need not worry about this matter. JOSEPH SPEAKS:
Mary, who has so much money
that they would advance you the sum?
Money is scarce on all sides
May God turn our situation to the best. MARY SINGS:
There are no other means to be found
let us tie up the little ox
and take it with us to Bethlehem,
where Augustus has decreed us to go,
sell it for a fair price
and all may yet turn out well. JOSEPH SAYS:
If we sell the ox for the tax,
how will we continue to live?
In what have I placed all my hope and salvation
that I should offer it for sale?
But where two are to be sold for the tax,
the smallest of the two is to be considered.
Mary, bring the donkey here,
I want to be with you, not far from the ox. MARY:
Now that we are coming into the city,
where shall we take the ox and the donkey? MARY:
What if others get there before us
and take the room?
For many people, without number, measure, or limit,
are now traveling to Bethlehem.JOSEPH:
There is an innkeeper there, well known to me,
named Rufinus,
where we will stop
and put up the ox and the donkey. JOSEPH: Look, the city is almost in sight. Let us hurry a little, lest the gate be closed and we have to stay there overnight. MARIA: O Joseph, do not hurry so, the walk is too difficult for me, the road is too slippery with ice, I am afraid of falling. My feet are numb from the cold I fear I may become very ill. JOSEPH:
In the evening we will soften your feet
and rub them with warm cloths. Maria, I am now at the inn, as I promised to take you there. INNKEEPER ENTERS.
God bless you, Rufin, my good friend,
can you not give us shelter tonight?
We are very weary from our long journey,
as every traveler well knows.
The air has affected us severely
and worn our faces down with its harshness. INNER SPEAKS:
My friend, go elsewhere,
my lodging house is already full,
all the rooms and chambers are occupied,
believe me when I tell you this in truth.
As an innkeeper of my stature,
I have power over my house and lodgings.
AB. JOSEPH SPEAKS: Now I know of no one else who would be willing to lend us a helping hand, but we will not despair of help and will continue to try our luck. Let us greet our neighbor as usual and ask if he would be willing to let us into his house. ANOTHER INNKEEPER, “SERVILUS,” ARRIVES.
My friend, do you have no room in your house
where we can rest a little? INNKEEPER SPEAKS:
What do I have to do with you and your wife?
who knows where you've come from?
I can get more from other people
than from you, you lazy beggar!
Get away from my door,
and don't cause me any more trouble here.
AB. MARIA:
May the Lord have mercy on us,
that we must leave with such scorn,
must die of cold and fear,
unable to find shelter. INNKEEPER TIRUS:
My lady, why do you lament,
do you wish to despair completely?
You can see for yourself
that my house is full of strangers.
But if you will accept a stable
I will cheer you up. MARY:
My dear host, it makes no difference to us
whether we sleep on hard or soft ground tonight,
as long as our faces are not covered with snow
and no deadly wind blows through us. HOST:
So come in, in any case,
until my house is empty, into the stable. JOSEPH SINGS:
O pure virgin, o pure virgin,
here is a little manger,
in which we must sleep
with God who created us. O pure virgin, [o pure virgin.] THEY SIT DOWN ON A STOOL. MARY:
Oh Joseph, my love,
you must be my only comforter!
My time has come,
with pain I will give birth
to the little child, the baby Jesus. JOSEPH: Tomorrow morning I will get up and go to Cana to the butcher, I will offer him this animal and hear what he will give for it, then I will pay the tribute according to the will of Augustus. MARY:
Will the little animal be worth so much
that we will achieve our goal? MARRIA:
O Joseph, Mary's little angel
singing the Gloria, All that is here
is filled with love
that we have gained
the little child
the baby Jesus.JOSEPH:
Now do not doubt it
I hope to have something ready.MARY:
Oh Joseph, the time has already come
for me to be freed from the bonds of childbearing,
the birth is approaching,
as Gabriel has freely announced to me.
Let us ask the innkeeper to allow us
to enter his house.JOSEPH:
Mary, he will hardly grant our request,
since we desire too much at once,
but I will go to the innkeeper with confidence
and look around his dwelling
to see if a place can be found.INNKEEPER ARRIVES.
Marieo, Marieo!JOSEPH:
Mr. Titus, a child was born to us today
and almost froze to death during the night.
Therefore, we kindly request that you allow us
to enter your lodging house.INNKEEPER SPEAKS:
I would gladly grant your request,
but 24 have just arrived,
and they have taken all the rooms and empty spaces.
See where else you can go with the child.
As an innkeeper of my stature,
I have power over my house and lodgings.JOSEPH:
Mary, our request has been denied,
we must stay in the stable as before,
so that the child may be free from the cold,
lay him in the manger between the ox and the donkey.MARY:
Oh Joseph, my love!
How can the world be so unfaithful!
To shame us by excluding us
So that we must remain in the stable.
Oh Joseph, my love!
Oh Joseph, my love!
Oh Joseph, bring a little hay
So that I can make a little bed for the child.JOSEPH:
My heart, my will, and all my senses
are yours, my dear little son.MARY:
Oh, my Joseph,
help me rock the little child,
God will reward you.
Oh, my Joseph, oh, my Joseph.JOSEPH SINGS:
O my dear Mary!
I am happy to help, I am happy to help, I am already here,
I will help you rock your little child,
God will reward me. BOTH REMAIN ASIDE ON THEIR STOOLS WHILE THE COMPANY PARADES AND SINGS:
A child born in Bethlehem
this year,
Jerusalem rejoices.
In this year we rejoice
we praise the mother of the Lord
with her tender little child
with her tender little child
Christ the Lord we honor
with a song of praise
with a song of praise. 2. Here it lies in the manger
in this year,
the reign would be at an end!—
In this year we rejoice
[In this year we rejoice
We praise the mother of the Lord
With her tender little child
With her tender little child.)
AB. GALLUS ENTERS AND SAYS:
Heschka he he!
I thought I would be the last
but now I am the first to enter.
Hush hush! How cold it is today!
It freezes my face so much
that I cannot feel my nose. —
I have given Stichl my hand glove!
I've been running around and around.
Where is my brother Stichel running around?
I look around at everything
and my brother Stichel comes along. STICHL:
Heschka he he!
I thought I would be the first one here
but now my brother Gallus is here too. GALLUS:
Stichl, how are our herd and sheep? WITOK:
You fool! The mirror cards are gone;
it's raining so hard that everything is frozen!
My beard is stiff with ice!STICHL:
Oh, Gallus, I almost froze waiting for you.GALLUS:
Hey Stichl, did you get cold?
Look at my two hands!STICHL:
Hey, you only have two?
You lie to me 100 and 1000 times!
Hey, where is our Widok running around?
I look around at everything
and my brother Wüdok is coming right up!WÜDOK:
Heschka he he!
I thought I would be the first to reach the herds and the sheep,
but now I'm coming in last!STICHL:
You always take your sweet time.WITOK:
Yes, my wife wouldn't let me go,
I had to mend and sew her shoes first.
But if the cold wants us to leave so soon,
then we must be more careful, in my opinion.GALLUS:
Stichl, are you familiar with the story
of the emperor's nurse, named Cyrinus,
who set an exceedingly high tax,
that every head must be bought free,
on pain of losing all his possessions!
Who can remain cheerful in such circumstances?STICHL:
Oh Gallus, what are you always saying?
Is what you say actually true?
It cannot be permitted to desire
that the people should live more easily!WITOK:
Oh God, has this desire no end!
Woe is our great misery and sorrow!
I thought it would change,
that we might live more easily.
Misfortune comes in heaps,
no one can be free from this misery.GALLUS:
Oh my Witok, you have no reason to complain yet,
let me tell you about poverty first.
That's how it is for me, an innocent man!
I have no rest, day or night.
I always strive to tend my flock,
sleep is unknown to me.
Yesterday I was with my flock in the field,
where my sheep graze diligently,
but there are not so many of them:
I will tell you the reason shortly.STICHL:
Tell us, you old chatterbox! WITOK:
Recently, I was told at length
how God has chosen from eternity
that the longed-for Messiah should come into the world
to comfort and redeem all the pious.
Then we on earth will be freed
from all burdens and cares.GALLUS:
Some of them were torn apart by the wretched wolf.STICHL:
Perhaps the butcher's dogs have bitten them;
then it has happened without a trace;
must everything be lost to the wolf?GALLUS:
Truly, Stichl, keep your mouth shut,
the wolf bites just as hard as the dog.STICHL:
Yes, even harder.GALLUS:
Whatever else you want to say about it,
you must first make peace with the herd. —WITOK:
From my wife I brought Kletz'n and Null'n
Now let's have a good afterlifeSTICHL:
Is there a piece of Schmolz in there?WITOK:
A piece as big as a fist, about three of them.GALLUS:
Oh, if only all this were so certain today,
that the Messiah were at hand,
then we would rejoice and leap for joy
and sing the gratias to God with joy.THEY STAND HERE IN A TRIANGLE FACING EACH OTHER, LEANING ON THE LONG STICKS. AT THESE WORDS, ALL THREE JUMP UP TOGETHER AS A SIGN OF JOY.
STICHL:
At what time and place shall this happen,
that we may find comfort for the poor?WITOK:
The time has not been told us,
but the place is well known to us
He shall be born in Bethlehem
of a virgin chosen. —GALLUS:
Now listen, my dear brothers,
since we are now all three together,
let us lie down for a little while
and sleep beside them for a short time.THE SHEPHERDS LINE UP AND LIE DOWN NEXT TO JOSEPH AND MARY AND SLEEP.
ANGEL COMES AND SINGS:
Gloria, gloria in excelsis! —
I proclaim to you
and to all peoples on earth
O Christ, wake up, get up and run
to the little child, to the manger, to the baby Jesus, run
run, run, run, run.
Run, shepherds, run, all at once,
take your shawms and pipes with you
run to Bethlehem, to the stable
greet the little child, all of you
all of you, all of you!
O shepherds, O shepherds, do not despair,
I will tell you a new story.GALLUS SPEAKS IN A DREAM:
Stichl, what is this singing and rejoicing?
A ghost wants to torment us, it disturbs our sleep.STICHL SPEAKS:
I, a great wonder and a wonder beyond measure,
I look just a little outside the hut,
and I see a great and bright light,
what is shining there before my eyes?WITOK SPEAKS:
I hear a voice so bright and clear,
it seems to me it is a band of Englishmen.ANGEL SINGS:
From heaven above I come,
I bring you good news,
I bring you so much good news,
that I will sing and tell you about it.GALLUS STANDS UP AND SPEAKS TO WITOK:
Be careful, it's icy. GALLUS:
Stichl, get up, the sky is already cracking! STICHL:
Let it crack, it's old enough for that. GALLUS:
Stichl, get up, the forest birds are already chirping! STICHL:
Let them chirp!
They have small heads, they'll soon be asleep again. GALLUS:
Stichl, get up! The people are clattering on the street. STICHL:
Let them clatter, they still have a long way to go. GALLUS:
You have to get up!
Be careful, it's icy. STICHL: Oh, for heaven's sake!
Are you going to open your mouth
only when I've opened my satchel?! What did you dream?
I will quickly catch it with my staff
and hang it over my shoulders.STICHL:
Ha, my Gallus! What did you dream?
That you rolled and tumbled next to me?GALLUS:
What did I dream?
I can tell you that very well.ALL THREE TURN, STANDING IN A TRIANGLE, WITH THEIR BACKS TO EACH OTHER AND LEANING ON THEIR SHEPHERD'S STICKS; GALLUS SINGS:
I went into a stable,
where there was an ox and an ass,
eating from a manger:
O noble treasure, O tender virgin
who was clearly sitting with him!?
Now I have just awakened from sleep,
I wish God would give me that dream every night
I would gladly sleep until seven.THEY TURN TOWARDS EACH OTHER.
STICHL:
Ha, my Witok, what did you dream?
That you rolled and tumbled around next to me?
What did you dream?WITOK:
What did I dream?
I can tell you that very well.THEY TURN THEIR BACKS ON EACH OTHER.
WITOK SINGS:
On Christmas Day, in the silence,
a deep sleep overtook me,
I was filled with joy;
my soul received much sweetness,
much honey and many roses.THEY TURN TOWARDS EACH OTHER.
GALLUS SPEAKS:
Ha, my friend, what did you dream?
That you rolled and tumbled around next to me?
What did you dream?[FRIEND:]
What I [dreamed?
I can tell you that].THEY TURN THEIR BACKS ON EACH OTHER AGAIN.
STICHL SINGS:
I dreamt as if an angel came
and led us to Bethlehem
to the Jewish land so far away:
a miracle happened there,
we heard new tales.THE SHEPHERDS SING WHILE THEY WALK IN A CIRCLE BEHIND EACH OTHER:
Merry shepherds, joyful boys,
who have a good desire to sing:
heya, come on! And let us sing
and jump merrily with good cheer.
David, a brave shepherd boy
David delights our hearts and tongues.
A cheerful little song while we work,
if we don't feel like sleeping,
we sing to honor God,
whoever wants to, open your mouth
eia, who is interpreting it badly,
since David also does it.
After a battle and mighty deeds
chosen as potentate,
he must also carry the scepter,
rule the world, adorn the Jews.
Everyone points to David:
are not the shepherds brave people?GALLUS:
Now come, let us go to Bethlehem
to see the miracle there.
What gifts shall we offer?
What shall we present to the child?STICHL:
I will give the child a bottle full of milk
so that he may continue to grow in his mother's womb.WITOK SPEAKS:
I have a beautiful lamb under my herd,
which is well suited for the child. GALLUS SAYS:
I will take a little wool with me
so that it can be placed gently in its mother. STICHL SAYS:
The night is too dark for me, I can no longer see,
whether we are going right or wrong to the city. Oh,
where shall we all go from here? GALLUS SAYS:
Stichl, I can already see a straw house,
there we will ask for the child of God,
they will tell us
where we should go,
so that we may meet the child.
Holla holla! Is there no one at the door
who can take us to the desired place? JOSEPH SPEAKS:
My friend, whom are you looking for here
one who will take you further?
Since you have asked, tell me, where do
your thoughts and eager mind lie? STICHL SPEAKS:
Father, we seek God's little child
who should be born here among us,
we desire to know if it is true
as the story has been proclaimed to us. JOSEPH SPEAKS:
If that is what you want, then come in
here lies the desired little child. THE THREE SHEPHERDS STAND BEFORE JOSEPH AND MARY AND SING!
Listen, my heart, and look there,
what lies there in the manger?
It is the dear little Jesus,
it is the beautiful little child. GALLUS NEVER KNEELS AND SPEAKS AT THE OFFERING:
Hail, tender little child!
How you lie there so miserable and hard.
A bed of straw, not of soft feathers,
but of prickly hay so hard.
Your birthday not in summertime,
but in the bitterness of winter.
For your little face and white roses
you choose great frost and ice.
Your little cheeks are white, your little nose is delicate
how they are so frozen,
and your dear golden eyes,
which are bathed in bitter tears.
I bring you, O little Jesus, a little wool
that your mother may lay you down softly.
I will give you a little milk,
so that your mother can make you a meal,
and when I come to see you more often,
I will bring something more with me. STICHL SPEAKS AT THE FUNERAL:
Hail, tender little child, how you lie there so still,
your salt of heaven is very great
and you come into the world poor, naked and bare:
I bring you a bottle full of milk,
with which I entrust myself to your protection. WITOK SPEAKS AT THE FUNERAL:
God bless you, dear little child
Hail, dear little Jesus!
You, a king, were born in a stable,
you must be nourished by your mother's breast:
I bring you, King, a little lamb,
I pray you will be satisfied with it. JOSEPH SPEAKS:
Shepherds, I thank you diligently
for your precious sacrifice and gift. MARY SINGS:
Shepherds, I thank you diligently,
for your precious sacrifice and gift. May God let your food thrive and bless your herd and sheep. THE SHEPHERDS CONTINUE TO SING ON THEIR KNEES:
Let us rock the little child,
and bow down to the manger
to bless the baby Jesus,
the little child must be healed.
O sweet baby Jesus, o sweet baby Jesus! GALLUS SPEAKS!
Well, how is it possible
that he was born so unknown
and suffers such deprivation, frost and cold
and yet rules the whole world? WITOK SPEAKS:
Here on earth he came poor
so that he might have mercy on us
and make us rich in heaven
like his beloved angels.
He did this for us so that
man might turn away from pride
and not seek such splendor and adornment,
but rather a humble life. STICHL SPEAKS:
We can take heart
because he is born of royal blood
King David was also a shepherd
I have read this in the Scriptures,
who through his royal deed
killed the mighty Goliath. GALLUS SPEAKS:
But when we tell our companions
what has happened here,
they will not believe us,
but will laugh loudly,
for the matter is such
that it surpasses all human understanding. WITOK SAYS:
I cannot keep it secret
I must report it to the lord
and go to Jerusalem tomorrow
and show it to the governor immediately. STICHL SPEAKS:
Our Crispus is also coming here
who will have sought us in the open field.
Greetings, dear Crispus! CRISPUS SPEAKS:
Thank you, God, my old friend, GALLUS SAYS:
How are things with our flock? CRISPUS SAYS! Truly, the sheep are still together in the pen, from the largest to the smallest. What news do you bring, is it true what the people are saying? GALLUS SAYS:
Truly, in Bethlehem lies the little child
in a manger, between an ox and a donkey.
If you wish to see this miracle,
you can get up early tomorrow morning
and come with us to Bethlehem. CRISPUS SAYS:
Is it far away? GALLUS SAYS:
You can get there! CRISPUS SAYS:
Yes, yes, I will think about it
and give the child a piece of my fur. THE SHEPHERDS BEHIND THE ONE WALKING AROUND IN CIRCLES:
And the shepherds were cheerful
as they tended their sheep,
working diligently at their task
and then lay down to sleep.
Then an angel quickly entered
and God shone brightly around them,
so that they were very frightened.
The angel said: do not be afraid
I bring you a new story
I want to bring you joy.
AB. COMPANY SINGS IN:
Rich and poor shall be joyful
on this day,
for a child is born unto us
who can do all things.
He is also holy
his name is Jesus Christ
who came down from heaven
from heaven. —
O man, consider how Jesus Christ
so shy of all
was born in Bethlehem
in an old barn
and laid in a manger,
as the Scriptures tell us,
who is yet the highest king
on earth far and wide.
COMPANY EXITS. ANGEL FINISHES SPEAKING:
Honorable, wise, and gracious lords,
virtuous ladies and maidens in all earnestness,
since you have heard our play,
please bear no ill will toward us.
Do not interpret our words badly,
but rather attribute them to our lack of understanding:
if we have erred here
and failed to observe proper decorum,
but rather each of us has considered what is best,
then we wish you a good night from Almighty God.