The lights at the front of the church dim, and the magi enter, singing “We Three Kings,” but in their North Louisiana accents the opening line comes out something like “Way thray kangs,” as the church pianist tries desperately to cover up their lack of harmony. One of the wise men is a college football player home for the holidays recruited at the last minute to replace a missing actor. Wearing a purple turban and a huge swathe of leopard print fabric, he lumbers down the aisle, dwarfing the rest of the cast. Before the Holy Family arrives, the child playing the donkey drops his costume head (a motorcycle helmet with felt ears attached) at the back of the church, and it rolls down the aisle.

Despite occasional mishaps, or maybe because of them, our local Nativity play is one of my favorite holiday observances.