At the Christmas Eve service at St. Benedict’s, we sang the Huron Carol… it was done fabulously, mainly with drum accompaniment, the rhythm carrying on through the prayers of the people and other parts of the service. I love the carol and the way Jean de Brébeuf “contextualizes” the Christmas story with it for First Nations people of the mid 1600’s. It’s a reminder to me not to get too “religious” about many of the symbols and motifs of Christmas or any other of the Biblical narrative stories, which sometimes need to be recast slightly in order to convey the same force and meaning in the retelling as it had the original telling.
‘Twas in the moon of wintertime
When all the birds had fled
That mighty Gitchi Manitou
Sent angel choirs instead
Before their light the stars grew dim
And wandering hunters heard the hymn;Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born
In excelsis gloriaWithin a lodge of broken bark
The tender Babe was found
A ragged robe of rabbit skin
Enwrapp’d His beauty round
And as the hunter braves drew nigh
The angel song rang loud and high;Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born
In excelsis gloriaThe earliest moon of wintertime
Is not so round and fair
As was the ring of glory
On the helpless infant there
The chiefs from far before him knelt
With gifts of fur and beaver pelt;Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born
In excelsis gloriaO children of the forest free
O sons of Manitou
The Holy Child of earth and heaven
Is born today for you
Come kneel before the radiant Boy
Who brings you beauty, peace and joy;Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born
In excelsis gloria
Speaking of reminders, now is as good a time as any to remind us all… there are twelve days of Christmas. It’s a feast holiday, and we’re only just getting started — hope you didn’t rip down the tree just yet ;^)
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