This did Herod sore affray

Epiphany Sunday today.  There was a rather sweet thing in church this morning – I have never seen (or noticed) this before, but the Wise Men were not in the crib at Christmas, and this morning some children brought them up to the crib during the service.

The lesson was on King Herod, and I could not help recalling my own acquaintanceship with that gentleman as a nine year old child.  We were doing a school nativity play and I desperately wanted to be the Angel Gabriel.  The white dress, the tinsel halo, the wings.   But when the parts were handed out – I was not given Gabriel.  Instead I was to be King Herod.  I was not a charming or retiring child and I demanded to know a) why I couldn’t be Gabriel  b) second best couldn’t I be a shepherd or a wise man – or anything else but Herod.  The answer I received was a) Angels don’t have red hair and freckles b) I suited the part of Herod.

Me in my school uniform.

Me as Gabriel had it but happened (sigh…)

Me as Herod

I think this may have damaged me for life.  Or at least if I was as much of a snowflake as people seem to be these days it would.  But I’m not.  So it didn’t.

I guess I probably did suit the part of Herod quite well, and it actually was a decent part involving shouting and sending people off to be executed.  Believe it or not I can still remember many of my lines from the play.