Jog to the world, and all that! It’s time to clean house, take down the lights, and get to the crucial business of 2012!
I think I’ve mentioned this before, but I have a weak spot for Balthazar. Traditionally, since he’s from Africa, he’s the only black member of the nativity. And therefore, the only one that I can put a name to.
So, I like it when he dresses up a bit.
Yes, this particular Balthazaar has weird little chicken feet, or possibly stiletto heels, and possibly has a parrot balancing precariously on top of his head, but he is, self-evidently, fabulous.
Not everybody can wear Aqua, red, purple, gold, and a parrot and have it come off right. But as a Wise Man, Balthazaar has clearly had special training in fashion, or watched a LOT of “Queer Eye for the Magi.” “Frankincense, darling. It’s the gift of AD1. You want to avoid regifts? Give frankincense. Not as tawdry and showy as gold, and myrrh is strictly for funerals.”
“Does this nativity scene have valet parking? Because you don’t want this elephant standing on the curb unless one of the shepherds brought a push-broom.”
Sticking with the “probably gay Balthazaar” just a bit longer–
Not only does this one seem a bit swishy, and it’s probably just the pink lining of the robe that does it…wherefore the pink feet? He looks a little puzzled by them too. Maybe Melchoir or Caspar wandered off with his body and he had to get a replacement, and they didn’t have it in his color…which is really, really dark. “Don’t judge me because someone painted my head after the fact. I’m still a magi. Aren’t we all magi, really?”
“It’s the most beautiful candy cane in the world, Santa.”
“But I was really hoping to have eyes for Christmas.”
Mrs. Claus, tired of being a Christmas Eve Widow for the last 2000 years, finally had Santa’s head scooped out, lined with holly, and turned into a decorative bowl. Frankly, looking at Santa, I’m not sure it was that big a change, he may have been mostly stuffed with holly anyway.
And now, getting ready to finally put Christmas behind us, we wrap it up with the big musical number:
All of Jesus’s friends turned up for his 15th birthday. The Magi were a bit surprised, but they’d learned not to judge a long time ago. Really, with that absentee father and all those crazy high expectations, and having been literally born in a barn, they were glad he turned out as normally as he did.
Happy new year, and thank you all for a lovely 2011!
Nativity Quinceañera from Goodwill near Stassney and Manchaca, Holly Cup from Goodwill on 2222 and Lamar, Giant Cane Angel from Savers on South Lamar, Fey Balthazaar from Goodwill on Metric and 183, Mismatched Balthazaar from Goodwill near Anderson Mill and 183.
6 Responses to “On the 12th day of Christmas…”
I love your gay Balthazar photos and commentary!!! Is it OK to post one of your photos on my blog with proper crediting and a link back to your blog?
I do the Jesus in Love Blog on LGBT spirituality and the arts. Your work will be included in a piece about queer Magi for Epiphany tomorrow. I hope to hear from you soon! Here is a link to a post that you may enjoy — with photos of Balthazar and Joseph together!
http://jesusinlove.blogspot.com/2011/12/queer-nativity-1-manger-scene-as.html
Por supuesto, Kittredge! I’m happy to share :) I’ll send my facebook peeps back to look tomorrow, thank you for the callout and happy Epiphany, inasmuch as one has a happy Epiphany :)
Mucho thanks! I quoted you and posted one of your fun Balthazar photos today at this link:
http://jesusinlove.blogspot.com/2012/01/epiphany-queer-eye-for-magi.html
You are in good company when you observe that the 3 kings may have been “queens.†Your peeps are welcome to visit!
I think I lost my sense of humor somewhere.
As a Black Gay woman, I found this extremely unfuuny and more than a tad racist.
But hey, its your Blog. Just sayin tho…
Hmm…I try to be as circumspect as possible when I’m dealing with race, there wasn’t a racist vibe intended!
EEEK! The red candy cane. I mean someone took the time paint it and have it glazed that way.