The Legend of the Donkey's Bray
When King Herod heard about the birth of the newborn King, he was very jealous and worried. So he sent his soldiers out to kill all baby boys who were born that were under the age of two.
But the night before, an angel appeared in a dream to Joseph and warned him of King Herod's actions and told Joseph he must take the Christ Child and flee. So early that morning, Joseph gathered Mary and the baby Jesus and put them on the donkey so they could leave.
They traveled by daylight but during the night they camped alongside the road. One night while they slept, the donkey heard the soldiers' horses coming from afar.
Afraid that the soldiers were coming to kill the baby Jesus, the donkey neighed and neighed, again and again, but his voice was just too soft to wake up Joseph and Mary.
Finally, as the soldiers were drawing nearer, the donkey became very worried and frightened that they would be found. He prayed for a loud voice to wake the family. Then, suddenly, when he neighed again, he was rewarded with a very loud bray. This time it woke Joseph, he heard the commotion from the soldiers and their horses. He gathered Mary and baby Jesus and with the donkey they once again fled to safety.
Ever since that night, donkey's have had a very loud bray.