Another one of the traditions that Melody has brought to our family is the singing of "The Huron Carol." This carol has a rich story behind it, and is a uniquely Canadian carol. It was written by a Jesuit called Jean de Brébeuf Jean de Brébeuf. Jean de Brébeuf went to the Huron people in 1626 and ministered to them until he was martyred by the Iroquois in 1649. The Huron people resisted the gospel for a long time. But as the Huron people were being wiped out by the Iroquois they responded to the gospel en masse. The remnants of the Huron nation fled the Iroquois and ended up taking the gospel to other Canadian indigenous nations after Brébeuf had been martyred.
The original carol was written in the Huron language to a traditional French melody. The words were very culturally relevant. In the 1926 English lyrics were written for the song by a Jesse Edgar Middleton. The words were loosely based on the original, but written as a carol for all Canadian indigenous peoples. The name :"Gitchi Manitou" is Great Creator in the Algonquin languages of which Huron was one.
Twas in the moon of winter time
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 Gloria
Within a larch of broken bark
the tender babe was found.
A ragged robe of rabbit skin
Enwrapped his beauty round.
And as the hunter braves drew nigh,
the angels' song rang loud and high.
Jesus your King is born,
Jesus is born
In Excelsis Gloria
The earliest moon of winter time
is not so round an fair,
as was the ring of glory on
that helpless infant there.
The chiefs from far before him knelt
with gifts of fox and beaver pelt.
Jesus your King is born,
Jesus is born
In Excelsis Gloria
O Children of the forest free ,
O Sons of Manitou,
That holy child of earth and heaven
is born today for you.
Come kneel before the raident boy
who brings you beauty, peace and joy.
Jesus your King is born,
Jesus is born
In Eccelsis Gloria
This is a significant tradition for us because of the effort made to contextualise the gospel among an indigenous people.
1 comment:
Beautiful words. Interesting that in the effort to contextualise the gospel that the misconception of a winter birth is continued. I like how the wise men and their gifts, and the shepherds, have been interpreted. And I suppose that with winters being long and hard in northern climes, it makes sense that Jesus would have arrived in the harshest of conditions - which he did. It does not make sense in Western tradition however. I think we need to really look at the misconceptions we have about Jesus' birth. It has become so sanitised over the years, when he really didn't enter the world in such a pretty way as portrayed in the carols. To put it bluntly, he really got into the s**t of life with us - literally. Stables weren't that hygenic! That's what we need to know. Like you say, it was such an amazing sacrifice.
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