A sin of omission

Time to ’fess up.

  In my 2019 book Keeping Christmas, I listed 129 popular songs of the season. About half were sacred, half were secular, and the rest were a bit of a mixture.

  The list was meant to be more representative than comprehensive. I’m sure I missed several songs, especially secular ones – not to mention some that have appeared in the six years since the book came out. (Can it really be that long ago?)

  Now I realize that my list ignored an important sacred hymn – an especially big error since this one is in the United Methodist Hymnal (#244) and many other hymnals as well. It’s been in circulation in English for 100 years, and French for many years before that.

It’s usually listed as “'Twas in the Moon of Wintertime.” The popular title is “The Huron Carol.” It has been recorded by many top artists, though I confess that I don’t recall hearing of it before Kate Bowler mentioned it in an Advent meditation this week.

It was written about 1643 by Saint Jean de Brébeuf, a French Jesuit priest to the Huron tribe in what is now Ontario. Brébeuf wrote the lyrics in the Huron language and set it to a French folk song. The original title was "Jesous Ahatonhia" ("Jesus, he is born").

  The Huron tribe is also known as Wendat or Wyandot, and has communities in Canada and the United States, including Kansas.

  Brébeuf and another missionary, Gabriel Lallemant, were tortured to death in1649 by Iroquois who destroyed the Jesuit mission and drove the Hurons out of their homeland.

  Here is the song as it appears in most hymnals, from the English translation by Jesse Edgar Middleton in 1926.

  1. '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 hunter heard the hymn:

Refrain:

"Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born, in excelsis gloria."

  2. Within a lodge of broken bark the tender Babe was found,

A ragged robe of rabbit skin enwrapp'd his beauty round;

But as the hunter braves drew nigh, the angel song rang loud and high.

Refrain

  3. 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.

Refrain

  4. O children of the forest free, O sons of Manitou,

The Holy Child of earth and heaven Is born today for you.

Come kneel before the radiant boy who brings you beauty, peace and joy.

Refrain

  May you have a blessed Advent and a merry (which is to say, a blessed) Christmas!