“They would probably have made the journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem by one of two routes. One would have taken them south across the Jezreel Valley, then through the hills of Samaria into Judaea. This is the more direct route in straight-line distance—but there are two reasons it probably was not the way Joseph and Mary went: It is physically demanding, with constant ups and downs through the hills—and it took the traveler directly through Samaritan country, and “the Jews [had] no dealings with the Samaritans” (John 4:9).
“The other possible route is the one Joseph and Mary more likely traveled. It would have taken them southeast across the Jezreel Valley, connecting with the Jordan Valley, then level or slightly down in elevation all the way to Jericho, then up through the Judaean Desert to Jerusalem and Bethlehem.
“To discover for myself what each of the routes would have been like, I have walked both of them. Both routes are about ninety-two miles long. Normal walking pace, even with a camel or donkey, is three miles per hour. So a traveler can usually walk between seventeen and twenty-four miles each day. Each route took me about thirty hours to walk—seventeen to twenty miles a day for five days.
“At that rate, the journey would have taken Joseph and Mary at least four to five days. We wonder where they stayed each night, where and with whom they camped along the way. It would have been a wearying journey for anyone, but especially for a pregnant woman soon to give birth. It was early spring, which can still be very chilly at night in the hill country. However, in the Jordan Valley—which is below sea level—the temperatures would have been mild and pleasant.
“The last leg of the eastern route would have been the hardest of all. Jericho is the lowest city on the globe, and Jerusalem and Bethlehem are situated right in the top of the hills. From Jericho’s desert to Bethlehem is an uphill hike of 3,500 feet. How exhausted Mary must have been! How anxious Joseph must have been to find a comfortable room at the inn! Desperate to find adequate shelter, they may have resorted at last to a limestone cave used for a stable” (source).
A pilgrimage is usually a journey with a sacred purpose. Mary and Joseph knew who was inside of Mary. Maybe to only them, this journey had a sacred purpose. Today we all know just how sacred this journey actually was!
Some parts of the text/song that I love:
- I love how Ariel Ramírez describes the outside world on the journey underscoring how Mary and Joseph had no place to lay the head of their baby.
- I love the mention of a blanket for the Christ Child. Everybody knows how comforting a soft blanket is, especially to a baby.
- Of all descriptions of the Christ Child, Ariel Ramírez highlights the “almond eyes” and the “olive skin.”
- At marker 1:28 you can hear the lead part sing a very embellished run. I didn’t notice it until I had my nice headphones on with the volume up.
- The best part of the song underscores Christ’s concealment (and if you understand Spanish you can tell this text fits the music perfectly)—“Con un Dios escondido, nadie sabia.”
I wonder if anybody offered assistance to the Holy Family along the way? Maybe. Maybe not. “Nadie sabia”—no one knew.
What are your thoughts about Joseph & Mary's journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem? Leave a comment below...oh, and this is one you will WANT to turn up the volume!
La Peregrinación The Pilgrimage
A la huella, a la huella Step after step track
Jose y Maria Joseph and Mary
Por las pampas heladas Through the frozen pampas,
Cardos y ortigas. thistle and nettle.
A la huella, a la huella Step after step track
Cortando campo cutting through the fields
No hay cobijo ni fonda there is no shelter or housing
Sigan andando. keep walking.
Florecita del campo, Little flower of the fields,
Clavel del aire carnation of the air
Si ninguno te aloja if no one gives you shelter,
¿adonde naces? where will you be born?
¿donde naces, florcita? Where will you be born, little flower?
Que estas creciendo, since you are growing
Palomita asustada, scared dove
Grillo sin sueño? sleeping grasshopper?
A la huella, a la huella Step after step track
Jose y Maria Joseph and Mary
Con un Dios escondido With a hidden God
Nadie sabia. No one knew.
A la huella, a la huella Step after step track
Los peregrinos the pilgrims
Prestenme una tapera Lend me a blanket
Para mi niño. for my Child.
A la huella, a la huella Step after step track
Soles y lunas suns and moons
Los ojitos de almendra The little almond eyes
Piel de aceituna. olive skin.
¡ay burrito del campo! Oh country donkey!
¡ay buey barcino! Oh red ox!
¡que mi niño ya viene, my Child is arriving
Haganle sitio! make room for Him!
Un ranchito de quincha A small ranch of clay
Solo me ampara only protects me
Dos alientos amigos two friendly breaths
La luna clara. the clear moon.
A la huella, a la huella Step after step track
Jose y Maria Joseph and Mary
Con un Dios escondido with a hidden God
Nadie sabia. No one knew.
Performed by: King’s Singers
Words & Music by: Ariel Ramirez
Arranged by: Peter Knight
Published by: Signum Records
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