Features / Christmas
‘We had to sing Jingle Bell Rock a million times’
It is a dark, cold December evening, and although the heavy rain has eased off, the continuing drizzle is a reminder that it will be months before anything will get better. The shortest day of the year is fast approaching and the darkness, misery and uncertainty that has marked 2020 seems determined on not departing for Christmas.
Then, clutching lanterns, comes a small group of children parading around the streets of St Jude’s with a life-size, energetic reindeer for company.
“A lot of other communities have had their festivals cancelled this year,” says Tess Cartwright, co-director of Invisible Youth (under the umbrella of Invisible Circus). “We’ve skipped Eid, Diwali and Hanukkah. We wanted to bring some light to the darkness through our Reindeer Ramble.”
is needed now More than ever
Tess, who has been working with children at Felix Road adventure playground for eight years doing weekly circus skills workshops, desperately missed the children this year so was overjoyed when given the chance to organise the Reindeer Ramble.
Tess with a child at Felix Road Adventure Playground. Getting ready for the Reindeer Ramble. Photo by Yvonne Deeney
The children have been preparing for the Reindeer Ramble all week, making lanterns and practicing Jingle Bell Rock incessantly with Tess – chosen because the song is non-denominational and inclusive.
Joining Invisible Youth for the small procession are the Placemakers from Eastside Community Trust. Abiir Shirdoon lives in St Jude’s and her role as a Placemaker is to help people engage more in their community. She spent the week giving out leaflets and tealights to her neighbours in St Jude’s in preparation for the parade.
“We wanted people to get involved. They can use the tealight to make their own lantern but we’re not encouraging people to come outside – this is a socially distanced parade. We are asking them to look out their windows and doors. At this time, it feels so dark and it’s nice to lighten up the area and cheer everyone up,” says Abiir.
Dasher getting ready for Wednesday’s parade. Photo by Yvonne Deeney
Rudolf was at home self-isolating, but Dasher, known for his speed and stamina, seemed delighted to get out. He joined three different groups of half-a-dozen children as they rambled the streets of The Dings on Tuesday December 15, St Jude’s on Wednesday December 16 and Newtown on Thursday December 17.
Emma Youngman was on her way home from work after a “miserable couple of weeks” when she heard the voices of young children singing what sounded like a familiar Bobby Helms song.
She looked across the street to a block of flats on Stapleton Road where there was a girl at the window. The little girl called out to those in the parade below and said: “It’s my birthday!” The group of lantern carriers and their reindeer stopped and sang to the child in the window.
The sight made Emma stop. As the song finished and she clapped and cheered, tears began to roll down her cheeks. “It was so dark with black skies and rain and then all the kids’ lights were there – it made me so happy,” says Emma.
Aisha, 6, joined other children for the Reindeer Ramble in St Jude’s and found that the reindeer exceeded her expectations: “I thought it would just be a person wearing antlers, but it was two people in a costume, which was much better.” Although tiring, she had a great time and really enjoyed herself.
“I liked getting to stay up late and walk around at night, but we had to sing Jingle Bell Rock a million times and now my voice hurts, and I need some chocolate.”
The final night of the Reindeer Ramble takes place on Thursday December 17 in Newtown. Find out more about Invisible Circus by visiting www.invisiblecircus.co.uk
Main image by Yvonne Deeney
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