AUBURN — The public is invited to a post-Christmas Nativity pageant performed by Saint Dominic Academy elementary students.

The pageant will be at 1 p.m. Jan. 5 at the Auburn campus.

Assistant Principal Donald Bilodeau explained that the Christmas pageant was originally scheduled for Dec. 15, but called off due to a storm. It’s working out well, he said.

“We were disappointed we had to postpone, but I think it’s going to be more special.”

The Catholic church recognizes Jan. 6 as the Epiphany, or when the three wise men brought gifts to baby Jesus in the manager. “In many traditions, that’s when gifts are exchanged,” Bilodeau said.

While society observes Christmas from after Halloween through Dec. 25, in the church “the season starts on Christmas Day, and doesn’t end until Jan. 6,” Bilodeau said.

The school plans to celebrate the Nativity every year around Jan. 6 “to really be more a part of the Christmas season,” and after the hustle and bustle, the anxiety, that goes on before Dec. 25.

More than 100 students in grades K-6 will participate in the pageant, which is under the direction of teachers Elizabeth Dunn and Jennifer Poliquin. “The kids are excited about this. They’ve done a lot of work,” Bilodeau said.

The Sun Journal wrote about the pageant in 2011. Costumes worn by students were impressive, the result of years of collection by multiple churches.

Students perform live Christmas music with singing and instruments.