John in the X:Hanswijkprocessie

Each year, the statue of the virgin Mary, from the church at Hanswijk, is paraded through the town of Mechelen, in gratitude for the deliverance of Mechelen from pestilence in the 1200s or so (after the townsfolk prayed to Mary at Hanswijk) [ a more complete telling can be found X:here]
Instead of just bringing the statue through town, there is a whole parade, basically chronicling both the life of Jesus and the story of Mary of Hanswijk.  This year John (since he's turned 6) was allowed to participate, which he was quite glad to do!
John's role was a "doopcelkind" - one of the children present when Jesus was baptized.  Off we went to get him all decked out, complete with make-up and everything!

John in costume
John in costume
 Having his make-up added
Makeup
John ready to go
The doopcelkind
 Just before the parade
The shepherds with their flocks (and sheepdogs!, all real) on the night
of Jesus' birth
Shepherds
Jesus with Simeon at the temple
At the temple with Simeon and Anna
Mary looking for Jesus when he is 12
The boy Jesus with the temple elders
Jesus in the temple
The wedding at Cana
John at the baptism of Jesus scene
The baptism of Jesus


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