A carol I did not grow up listening to at Christmas time is the oldest known to have been written in Canada (1642). It was written by a Jesuit missionary, Jean de Brébeuf, who wrote it in the language of the Huron/Wendat people of the area on the North Shore of Lake Ontario. Brébeuf immersed himself in the learning of the language, the culture and the spiritual practises of the Iroquois people.
His life’s end came when captured and killed, after the smallpox epidemic claimed so many of these First Nations peoples. Though he and another priest were tortured and killed, so were those of the Huron nation who had followed in the waters of baptism.
A Huron Carol, like his learning of the local language, was to give cultural context to the Christmas story for these people. It was, I think, an expression of love and respect for them. Isn’t this how we explain Christ and the Christmas story to all who do not know? We make it relevant, we show the fruit that is available to taste … in a way that the listener might hear and understand.
No one sings this carol better than Tom Jackson, of the Cree First Nations Band, in Saskatchewan.
“My favourite line from the Huron Carole is
The Holy Child of earth and heav’n
Is born today for you
because the power in helping others is to know the power of the gift and to understand we do not know whether or not the child we are helping is “The Child”… peace tom j.”
The Huron Carole
Twas in the moon of wintertime
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 excelis gloria
Within a lodge of broken bark
The tender Babe was found
A ragged robe of rabbit skin
Enwrapped his beauty round
And as the hunter braves drew high
The angel song rang loud and high
chorus
The earliest moon of wintertime
Is not so round and fair
As was the ring of glory on
The helpless infant there
The chiefs from far before
Him knelt
With gifts of fox and beaver pelt
chorus
O children of the forest free
O sons of Manitou
The Holy Child of earth and heav’n
Is born today for you
Come kneel before the radiant boy
Who brings you beauty, peace,
And joy
chorus
itsawonderfilledlife 