The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is a beloved holiday story that has captured the hearts of many and is performed all around the country.
What many people don’t know is that this story has a special connection to Portsmouth, Ohio. The author of the book, Barbara Robinson, was born and raised in Portsmouth.
In fact, the story is loosely based on her own experiences growing up in Portsmouth. Robinson attended Notre Dame High School and went on to earn a degree in journalism from the University of Arizona.
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever tells the story of the Herdman children, a group of unruly siblings. The Herdmans are described as the “worst children in the history of the world” who smoke, drink, cuss, and steal. But there’s a recognizable back story to many Portsmouth residents. Their father has left the family and mom has to pick up extra shifts to support them, which leaves them unsupervised and running wild. Even in the days before drug houses, there was still plenty of trouble to get into in the area.
The kids end up participating in their town’s Christmas pageant. Despite their misbehavior and lack of knowledge about the holiday, the Herdmans ultimately discover the true meaning of Christmas.
The book was first published in 1972 and has since become a classic holiday tale. It has been adapted into a play and a made-for-TV movie, both of which continue to be popular today. For many residents of Portsmouth, the story holds a special place in their hearts
