Written in 1642 by Jean de Brebeuf, the “Huron Carol” or “Twas in the Moon of Wintertime” is Canada’s oldest Christmas song. A Jesuit missionary at Sainte-Marie who lived with the Hurons, Brebeuf first wrote the lyrics to the hymn in the native language of the Huron/Wendat people. Its original Huron title is “Jesous Ahatonhia” or, “Jesus, He is Born.” The hymn’s melody is based on a traditional French folk song while the English lyrics sung by our 8th graders in this video were written in 1926 by Jesse Edgar Middleton. Derived from Brebeuf’s original song and Huron religious concepts, the English version of the hymn uses imagery familiar during the early 20th century, instead of the traditional Nativity story. Jesus is born in a “lodge of broken bark” and wrapped in a “robe of rabbit skin,” instead of a manger and swaddling clothes. He is surrounded by “hunters” instead of shepherds, and the Magi are portrayed as “chiefs from afar” that bring him “fox and beaver pelts” instead of the more familiar gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The hymn also uses a traditional Algonquian name, Gitchi Manitou, for God. Our thanks to 8th grade teacher Mrs. Xanthoula Melachrinidis for teaching our students this beautiful carol and a piece of history.
Posted on: Wed, 24 Dec 2014 14:30:00 +0000
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