Page 51 - Discover Winter 2021
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Trolling The Ancient
Yuletide Carols
ByTim Ernandes
Whilst pondering the curious title “A sung in the language of the locals. In this way,
Christmas Carol” of the legendary Dickens they could not only enjoy them because they
story, I found myself scratching my head. The understood the lyrics, but they could also join
famous tale of Ebenezer Scrooge’s spiritual in.
awakening was not a song, nor even a poem. I
The resulting new carols gained
needed answers.
widespread popularity, and soon spread to
That led me to wonder why Christmas France, Spain, Germany, and other European
songs and hymns were called “carols”. It countries. The earliest known of the more
turns out that thousands of years ago, pagan modern carols were at least part fiction,
worshippers observed the Winter Solstice, loosely based on the Christmas story, and
which is the shortest day of the year. It falls were considered more as entertainment
on or about December 22nd, which may rather than religious songs or hymns. It
explain why Christmas is celebrated at about wasn’t unusual for the lyrics to change as
that same time. The word “carol” meant a minstrels traveled to different places.
dance or a song of praise and joy. This was
A good example of such carols is “I
convenient for the early Christians, who
Saw Three Ships”. It was probably adapted
adapted the pagan rituals to align with their
from a song with similar lyrics. I can’t recall
faith.
any biblical passages that refer to these ships
There was a long period during which of song, or any mention of Jesus, Mary,
carols were written and sung in Latin, which and Joseph on any passenger manifest.
was a turnoff for the many folk who did not Furthermore, it would not have been possible
speak or understand the language. Eventually, for these ships of song to have sailed into
interest in singing them waned, and most Bethlehem, given that the ancient city is
people lost all interest in the celebration of landlocked and could not possibly be a
Christmas. seaport.
Things turned around in 1223, Many of today’s popular carols have
thanks to the efforts of one of my favorite interesting origins. “Good King Wenceslas”
Saints, Francis of Assisi. St. Francis had an is a lovely ballad about a nobleman who
admirable penchant for leading by example. spread the spirit of Christian charity to the
So, he started putting on Nativity Plays in poor at Christmastime. Although he was a
Italy. The performers would sing canticles real person, he wasn’t a king, and his name
that told the story, and normally these were was not Wenceslas. His real story is rather
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