Donkeys Headed to Holy Walk
Published: Friday, December 9, 2022
Deb Wise's two donkeys have strutted their stuff in parades and entertained children at the Bremen FFA petting zoo, but she says none of these activities compare in importance with what they will be doing this weekend at Bremen's 42nd annual Holy Walk event.
The two donkeys will be part of a live reenactment of the very first Christmas, when Jesus was born.
Organizers plan to create an authentic Bethlehem experience, complete with actors portraying Joseph and Mary, the Three Wise Men and a barn-type atmosphere that includes donkeys, sheep and a heifer.
The live nativity takes place Friday and Saturday at Shadyside Park on the west end of town. However, guests should park at Bremen High School and ride shuttles to the park. Hours are from 6-9 p.m. on Friday and from 5-9 p.m. on Saturday, with a special children's hour set for 5-6 p.m. on Saturday.
Organizers expect over 3,000 people to pass through the interactive experience. Guests will receive tax papers that must be stamped at one of the stations along the trail. Roman soldiers will be stationed along the path, reminding guests of their duty to pay taxes.
One of Wise's donkeys will be visible at the very first station, where Mary and Joseph are seen resting as they journey from their home in Nazareth to Joseph's ancestral home of Bethlehem to pay their taxes. The other donkey, and a cow, appear at the very end of the experience, with Mary and Joseph and the baby Jesus lying in the manger. The Three Wise Men—no relation to Deb —will also make an appearance and will interact with the guests.
Another scene will have shepherds tending a flock of sheep. Jason Fox of Bremen is bringing eight sheep to help tell the story of angels appearing to the shepherds and declaring the savior's birth.
While the farm animals are not the main focus of the experience, they nevertheless play an important role in setting the scene for the story line. The message of that first Christmas is that a savior was born, under lowly circumstances, for all mankind. The Gospels record that Jesus was born in a stable where animals were kept, and that his birth was first proclaimed to people of low position, like shepherds.
According to Andy Nykiel, who coordinates the animals, Bremen Holy Walk tries to be true to the Gospel accounts while also taking steps to protect participants—and the animals —from potentially inclement weather and accidents.
Nykiel said the donkeys, sheep and a cow will be penned up to avoid any chance of the animals getting loose and hurting one of the guests. However, he said the children are welcome to pet the animals. Wise, who is from Bremen, said her two Standard donkeys, nicknamed Diamond and Fontaine, love the attention.
Diamond, a 16-year-old female, known as a jenny, has appeared in parades, while Fontaine, a 12-year-old gelding, has played a starring role in Bremen FFA's annual petting zoo in the spring.
The donkeys will be outside for five hours each night. If the weather is cold, Wise may put a coat on them to keep them warm and dry. Generally speaking, donkeys can stand cold weather but not rain.
"They come from desert areas," she said. "This is not their ideal weather. And donkeys are not waterproof. You've got to be pretty careful in the wintertime. Even though they've got a fur coat, the texture of their coat does not repel water as well."
Many people think donkeys are similar to horses, but Wise said they are very different.
"Donkeys are very busy animals," she said. "They will be on the go. They will be moving around. They will pick up things and play with it. They love to have dog toys and anything like that. A horse is pretty content just to stand and sleep in the sunshine."
As for diet, donkeys eat a variety of mature forages, like hay. Wise said she avoids feeding them cereal grains and limits their intake of green pasture.
"If you feed them very simply, they will last decades," she said.
At Holy Walk, Wise plans to have a bucket of water in the pens along with some hay for the donkeys to munch on.
She plans to take them home Friday night and bring them back for Saturday's event. As guests make their way through the Holy Walk, Wise will be standing nearby to make sure the animals are well cared for.
"I'm going to be close by in case they have trouble with them, but I really don't think they will," she said. "Fontaine has been in the FFA days (petting zoo) and he loved it, and Diamond has been in some parades. Diamond really loves attention, especially children. She will put her head right down there and want to be loved on."
According to the Bremen Holy Walk website, no specific religious denomination will be promoted. The public is invited "to share in the joy of Christ's birth, the peace of knowing Jesus, and the promise of eternal life."
Although Wise has been a Holy Walk volunteer for seven years, this will be her first year bringing animals to the event.
"I just enjoy sharing my animals," she said. "That's always been my highlight, and I like to help with whatever needs to be helped with."
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