“What sweeter music can we bring, Than a carol, for to sing The birth of this our heavenly King? Awake the voice! Awake the string! Heart, ear, and eye, and everything. Awake! the while the active finger Runs division with the singer” When I was a child, Christmas was a time of the year that I always looked forward to.
I am an adult now and Christmas still is the time of the year that I love. I keep the magic going for my two children and I create an atmosphere so they will keep those special memories forever.
When I was little, I loved the time when we put the Christmas tree up together. I remember we were singing Christmas Carols while decorating our tree. The house was always full of music. Christmas tree glimmered with colourful lights and various ornaments, greens and reds in abundance, gold and silver flashing here and there, adding opulence and brightness, and on the top of it, those heavenly sounds of beautiful and absolutely perfect harmony of Christmas Carols. I remember well, the festivity and spirit created by the brilliance of this season gave me wings, always made me feel light, merry and bright. It still does.
There was something special about Christmas Carols. It seemed that this peace and happiness, this magical atmosphere and Christmas magic spreads further and further with every note.
The word ‘carol’ comes from the ancient Greek ‘choros’ and means ‘dancing in a circle’ and it also comes from the Old French word ‘carole’ meaning ‘a song to accompany dancing’. It means a song where all the singers might hold hands and dance round in a circle.
Carols were composed in every country in Europe. First carols are dated at the beginning of the XIV century.
Did you know that there was a time when Christmas Carols were banned? Yes, they were banned between 1647 and 1660 in England by Oliver Cromwell who, by the looks of it did not like Christmas very much, wanted Christmas to be a solemn day.
However, it wasn’t a bad thing, as the tradition of carollers going from door to door came about because they were banned from churches.
Do you know what makes Christmas Carols so ‘Christmassy’?
Definitely mix of minor and major melody lines along with lyrics that are nostalgic and often uplifting and inspiring. All is centred around a magical story of Jesus being born, bringing happiness and joy to the world.
We are in November now, however going through Northampton, I could see lighted Christmas trees through the windows already. Why not. After such a hard year, if we want to bring a harmony and happiness into our houses a bit earlier, why not? Let’s the magical spirit of Christmas take over. Let’s sing and enjoy and let’s we all be merry and bright.
Hush little Jesus
Hush little Jesus, my little pearl,
Hush my favourite little delight.
Hush little Jesus, hush, hush
But you lovely mother, solace him in tears
Close your little eyelids, tired of weeping,
Solace the little lips, fainted from sobbing.
Hush, our beautiful Angel.
Hush, you graceful little flower of the world.
Hush, you most decorative little rose,
Hush, you most comfortable little lily.
I'll give Jesus sweet little berries
I'll go with him into his Mother's heart's orchard.
I'll give Jesus a little butter with bread,
I'll put a doll into his crib.
I'll give you, Jesus, a sweet goody
raisins, almonds from my little box.
Hush! Hush! Hush! Let the sweet little child fall asleep
Here it has already fallen asleep like a little chicken.
Hush! Hush! Hush! You all go to sleep now,
Don’t wake up my sweet little child