Huron Carol
Encyclopedia
The "Huron Carol" is a Canadian Christmas
hymn
(Canada's oldest Christmas song), written in 1643 by Jean de Brébeuf
, a Jesuit missionary
at Sainte-Marie among the Hurons
in Canada. Brébeuf wrote the lyrics in the native language
of the Huron/Wendat people; the song's original Huron title is "Jesous Ahatonhia" ("Jesus, he is born"). The song's melody is based on a traditional French
folk
song, "Une Jeune Pucelle
" ("A Young Maid"). The well-known English
lyrics were written in 1926 by Jesse Edgar Middleton, and the copyright to these lyrics was held by The Frederick Harris Music Co., Limited, but became public domain in 2011.
The English version of the hymn uses imagery familiar in the early 20th century, in place of the traditional Nativity
story. This version is derived from Brebeuf's original song and Huron religious concepts. In the English version, Jesus
is born in a "lodge of broken bark", and wrapped in a "robe of rabbit skin". He is surrounded by hunters instead of shepherd
s, 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
. The original lyrics are now sometimes modified to use imagery accessible to Christians who are not familiar with Native-Canadian cultures.
The song remains a common Christmas hymn in Canadian
churches of many Christian denominations. Canadian singer Bruce Cockburn
has also recorded a rendition of the song in the original Huron. It was also sung by Canadian musician Tom Jackson
during his annual Huron Carole
show. The group 'Crash Test Dummies' recorded this hymn on their album "Jingle all the Way" (2002). In the United States, the song was included as "Jesous Ahatonia" on Burl Ives
's 1952 album Christmas Day in the Morning and was later released as a Burl Ives single under the title "Indian Christmas Carol." The music has been rearranged by the Canadian songwriter Loreena McKennitt
under the title "Breton Carol" in 2008.
Because the melody spans a modest range, it is ideally suited to instruments that have a limited pitch range, such as the Native American Flute
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
hymn
Hymn
A hymn is a type of song, usually religious, specifically written for the purpose of praise, adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification...
(Canada's oldest Christmas song), written in 1643 by Jean de Brébeuf
Jean de Brébeuf
Jean de Brébeuf was a Jesuit missionary, martyred in Canada on March 16, 1649.-Early years:Brébeuf was born in Condé-sur-Vire, Normandy, France. He was the uncle of the fur trader Georges de Brébeuf. He studied near home at Caen. He became a Jesuit in 1617, joining the Order...
, a Jesuit missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
at Sainte-Marie among the Hurons
Sainte-Marie among the Hurons
Sainte-Marie among the Hurons was a French Jesuit settlement in Wendake, the land of the Wendat, near modern Midland, Ontario, from 1639 to 1649. It was the first European settlement in what is now the province of Ontario. Eight missionaries from Sainte-Marie were martyred, and were canonized by...
in Canada. Brébeuf wrote the lyrics in the native language
Wyandot language
Wyandot is the Iroquoian language traditionally spoken by the people known variously as Wyandot, Wyandotte, Wendat, or Huron. It was last spoken primarily in Oklahoma and Quebec...
of the Huron/Wendat people; the song's original Huron title is "Jesous Ahatonhia" ("Jesus, he is born"). The song's melody is based on a traditional French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
song, "Une Jeune Pucelle
Une Jeune Pucelle
Une Jeune Pucelle is a French folk song from 1557, which has a melody that is based loosely on an older French song entitled Une Jeune Fillette.Une Jeune Fillette is itself based on an Italian ballad from 1465, entitled "La Monica".St...
" ("A Young Maid"). The well-known English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
lyrics were written in 1926 by Jesse Edgar Middleton, and the copyright to these lyrics was held by The Frederick Harris Music Co., Limited, but became public domain in 2011.
The English version of the hymn uses imagery familiar in the early 20th century, in place of the traditional Nativity
Nativity play
A Nativity play or Christmas pageant is a play which recounts the story of the Nativity of Jesus. It is usually performed at Christmas, the feast of the Nativity.-Liturgical:...
story. This version is derived from Brebeuf's original song and Huron religious concepts. In the English version, Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
is born in a "lodge of broken bark", and wrapped in a "robe of rabbit skin". He is surrounded by hunters instead of shepherd
Shepherd
A shepherd is a person who tends, feeds or guards flocks of sheep.- Origins :Shepherding is one of the oldest occupations, beginning some 6,000 years ago in Asia Minor. Sheep were kept for their milk, meat and especially their wool...
s, and the Magi
Magi
Magi is a term, used since at least the 4th century BC, to denote a follower of Zoroaster, or rather, a follower of what the Hellenistic world associated Zoroaster with, which...
are portrayed as "chiefs from afar" that bring him "fox and beaver pelts" instead of the more familiar gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
, frankincense
Frankincense
Frankincense, also called olibanum , is an aromatic resin obtained from trees of the genus Boswellia, particularly Boswellia sacra, B. carteri, B. thurifera, B. frereana, and B. bhaw-dajiana...
, and myrrh
Myrrh
Myrrh is the aromatic oleoresin of a number of small, thorny tree species of the genus Commiphora, which grow in dry, stony soil. An oleoresin is a natural blend of an essential oil and a resin. Myrrh resin is a natural gum....
. The hymn also uses a traditional Algonquian
Algonquian languages
The Algonquian languages also Algonkian) are a subfamily of Native American languages which includes most of the languages in the Algic language family. The name of the Algonquian language family is distinguished from the orthographically similar Algonquin dialect of the Ojibwe language, which is a...
name, Gitchi Manitou
Gitche Manitou
Gitche Manitou means "Great Spirit" in several Algonquian languages. The term was also utilized to signify God by Christian missionaries, when translating scriptures and prayers, etc...
, for God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
. The original lyrics are now sometimes modified to use imagery accessible to Christians who are not familiar with Native-Canadian cultures.
The song remains a common Christmas hymn in Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
churches of many Christian denominations. Canadian singer Bruce Cockburn
Bruce Cockburn
Bruce Douglas Cockburn OC is a Canadian folk/rock guitarist and singer-songwriter. His most recent album was released in March 2011. He has written songs in styles ranging from folk to jazz-influenced rock to rock and roll.-Biography:...
has also recorded a rendition of the song in the original Huron. It was also sung by Canadian musician Tom Jackson
Tom Jackson (actor)
Thomas Dale Jackson, OC , is a Canadian born Métis actor and singer perhaps best known for the annual series of Christmas concerts, called the Huron Carole, which he created and starred in for 17 years...
during his annual Huron Carole
Huron Carole
The Huron Carole was a yearly fundraiser that collected donations for the Canadian Association of Food Banks. It did this for 17 years and collected more than $3.55 million dollars, and numerous tonnes of food. The tour travelled across Canada and played at many stops from the east coast, all the...
show. The group 'Crash Test Dummies' recorded this hymn on their album "Jingle all the Way" (2002). In the United States, the song was included as "Jesous Ahatonia" on Burl Ives
Burl Ives
Burl Icle Ivanhoe Ives was an American actor, writer and folk music singer. As an actor, Ives's work included comedies, dramas, and voice work in theater, television, and motion pictures. Music critic John Rockwell said, "Ives's voice .....
's 1952 album Christmas Day in the Morning and was later released as a Burl Ives single under the title "Indian Christmas Carol." The music has been rearranged by the Canadian songwriter Loreena McKennitt
Loreena McKennitt
Loreena Isabel Irene McKennitt, CM, OM, is a Canadian singer, composer, harpist, accordionist and pianist who writes, records and performs world music with Celtic and Middle Eastern themes. McKennitt is known for her refined, clear soprano vocals...
under the title "Breton Carol" in 2008.
Because the melody spans a modest range, it is ideally suited to instruments that have a limited pitch range, such as the Native American Flute
Native American flute
The Native American flute has achieved some measure of fame for its distinctive sound, used in a variety of New Age and world music recordings. The instrument was originally very personal; its music was played without accompaniment in courtship, healing, meditation, and spiritual rituals. Now it...
External links
- J.E. Middleton's English lyrics to the Huron Carol (n.b., under Canadian and international copyright protection until 2011)
- Lyrics translated into Mi'kmaw by Mildred Milliea, with an MP3 of the song as sung by the Eskasoni Trio
- Original Wendat language (Huron) lyrics with pronunciation guide and translation
- Lyrics, translation and discussion of the Bruce Cockburn version of the Huron Carol, including critique of the Middleton lyrics
- Rewritten rock music version called The Lake Huron Carol set in the modern Lake Huron area; page includes historical notes on the original song.
- Wendat(Huron)/French/English version by Canadian Artist Heather Dale