1. A Virgin Most Pure Old English
This haunting and beautiful carol retells the prophecy and tells of three journeys to Bethlehem: Mary’s journey along with Joseph, and that of the shepherds and wise men. Had it not been for the efforts of a musicologist, this carol may have been lost to us when carol singing was banned in England. This version was notated on December 19, 1911 upon hearing the singing of a seventy-six year old man, Mr. Samson Bates, who was “of the Trench” (a canal built for the iron and mining industries in Shropshire). I would very much like to have heard Mr. Bates’ sweet English brogue as he sang of the beautiful Mary in a rusty voice to tell us: “Aye, and therefore be merry, Set sorrows aside,Christ Jesus, our Savior was born on this tide.”

2. Coventry Carol: the Holy Innocents 16th Century English
Mystery plays, performed in the streets on stages upon carts, were popular in the 1300’s and enjoyed by Margaret, Queen of Henry VI in 1456, by Richard III in 1484 and by Henry VII in 1492. The Coventry Carol (c. 1534) is from the mystery play, The Pageant of the Shearman and Tailors and is taken from a scene in which Herod’s soldiers have entered to slay the innocent children. The Jewish mothers are forced one by one to give up their sons. The grief-stricken mothers hold their sons closely and sing this lullaby as a final act of love and comfort as the boys are put to death and delivered into the arms of God: “Lully, lulla thou little tiny child, By by, lully lullay.”

3. Children’s Song of the Nativity English Carol
For those unable to make an actual pilgrimage to Bethlehem, it was popular to make pilgrimages to cathedrals, as told in the Canterbury Tales, or to walk through stations depicting scenes in the Holy Lands. In this carol, whose lyrics are set to the English folk tune “Stowey,” the children ask one question which inspires another, and I smile with the realization that these are the same questions my own children are sure to ask when we travel: “How much farther, what are we going to do, and what will happen when we get there?” “How far is it to Bethlehem? Not very far. Shall we find the stable room lit by a star? Can we see the little child, is he within? If we lift the wooden latch may we go in? May we stroke the creatures there, ox, ass and sheep? May we peep like them and see Jesus asleep? If we touch his tiny hand will he awake? Will he know we’ve come so far just for his sake?”

4. Carol of the Birds Bas-Quercy, France
Carol of the Birds is also known by its first line of lyrics, “Whence comes this rush of wings?” Because nature was created pure and beautiful, the peasants composed many carols depicting animals, trees and flowers. A legend tells of the enchantment of animals whereby on each Christmas Eve the animals can speak. In this carol the birds follow the “noel star” and give the gift of song to the infant Jesus. The eagle, finch, robin, cuckoo and lark sing their best songs, and even the harsh tones of the magpie, jay and raven are not left out. One verse tells of the sparrow flying with the angels to Bethlehem. Another tells of the fat little partridge who flies to Bethlehem to build his nest in the stall near the manger and sing his love-undying to the infant. I imagine the beautiful birds one by one singing their lullaby and then joining together to celebrate this birth.

5. The Wexford Carol Irish
This beautiful carol, also known as the “Ennsicorthy Carol,” is thought to originate in County Wexford in the 12th century. Its dance-like nature spreads the contagious joy of the birth as it tells of the journey of Mary, the shepherds and wise men. “Good people all this Christmastime, Consider well and bear in mind, What our good God for us has done In sending his beloved Son. With Mary holy we should pray To God with love this Christmas Day. In Bethlehem upon that morn Was a blessed Messiah born.”

6. Huron Carol Indian/Canadian
From the chilling north winds of wintertime in 1643 this emotional and haunting tune “Iesous Ahatonnia” rises with the long ago and distant Indian voices of the Huron droning: “Have courage, you are human, Jesus is born. Behold the spirit who had us prisoners has fled.” Setting the words to an Indian/Canadian tune, Father Jean de Brebuef, Jesuit missionary, taught the Huron and Wendot in a St. Marie wilderness outpost in Quebec. He was captured and killed along with hundreds of Indians. The carol tells of great chiefs bringing fox and beaver pelts to the lodge of broken bark where the infant Jesus was wrapped in rabbit skins. "It was 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, en excelsis gloria.”

7. The Boar’s Head Carol - English Traditional
If ye should be attacked by a wild boar whilst studying Aristotle, simply thrust the book into the boar’s throat and in so doing, save yourself, as did the clever student at Queen’s Mary College, Oxford. Plan the feast accordingly to include one of the many boar’s head carols originally known as the “Boar’s Head with Mustard.” Placing the boar’s head on a tray and marching proudly, display it while chanting the verse, and everyone will gladly join in the chorus. According to this legend, the student created a tradition to be celebrated to this day as the boar’s head is served with song at the annual Gaudy Feast. The carol, without the boar’s head, has been a favorite at our house since we learned of it. Please pass the mustard! “The Boar’s head in hand bear I, bedecked with bay and rosemary. And I pray you, my masters be merry, Quot estis in convivio. Caput apri defero Reddens laudes Domino.” (translated Lo, Behold the head I bring, giving praise to God we sing.)

8. Joyeaux Noel French Carol
This is one of the many early Noels which were sung at New Year’s. This magical carol dates to the 1400’s with twelve verses: one for each day of Christmas. The narrator tells of his visions of the Nativity as they unfolded through a dream. “Noel nouvelet! Sing we this new Noel!”

9. Bring a Torch Jeanette, Isabella French Provencal Carol
This carol originates in the 15th century where the use of torches was an important part of Christmas celebrations. The peasants built models depicting their village, a manger scene and characterizations of the villagers. The tune for this version of the carol is derived from the drinking song: “Qu’ ils sont doux, bouteille jolie.” Jeanette and Isabella are asked to bring torches to light the way to the manger, so that all may see the beautiful Mother and Son more clearly. “Bring a torch, Jeanette, Isabella Bring a torch, come swiftly and run. Christ is born, tell the folk of the village, Jesus is sleeping in His cradle, Ah, ah, beautiful is the Mother, Ah, ah, beautiful is her Son.”

10. The Dutch Carol - Holland c. 1599
The lyrics of the “Dutch Carol” are simple and seem to float upon a fragile and haunting melody. They say everything there is to say. The chorus speaks only of love. “A child was born in Bethlehem Awaiteth him all Jerusalem. Amore, amore, amore, amore Quam dulcis est amore!” (“How sweet is love!”)

11. Ding Dong Merrily on High French
While this may seem to be a very traditional carol, it is anything but. Though the tune is French, it was the English who added lyrics. The tune is a branle, similar to the lavolta, Queen Elizabeth’s favorite dance in which the young men would take the ladies by the waist and help them leap into the air. The joyous tune was set in a major key which was associated with earthly frivolity, hedonism and witchcraft. Since the lower-class peasants were allowed a gaiety and intensity denied the upper class, a simple solution was found: “We will let our servants dance for us!” To this end, a good time was had by all as the lackeys and serving wenches merrily danced for their employers. An exception to the rule allowed young men and ladies of more noble birth to dance to this tune if they masqueraded as simple peasants and shepherds. Dance ye lackeys and serving wenches!

12. Poverty Welsh Carol
O Deued Pob Cristion,” though born of lives that experienced poverty, speaks of the most precious of gifts. “All poor men, and humble, all blind men who stumble, Come haste ye, nor feel ye afraid: For Jesus, our treasure, with love past all measure, In lowly poor manger was laid. Though wise men who found him laid rich gifts around him, Yet oxen they gave him their hay. And Jesus in beauty accepted their duty; Contented in manger he lay."

13. Silent Night Mohr/Gruber
Legends surround the creation of “Silent Night,” yet what is certain is that when Franz Gruber wrote the melody in 1818 for Joseph Mohr’s lyrics, a beautiful carol was created that has captivated listeners ever since. The carol is a national treasure in Austria, and it is heard only on Christmas Eve. A society protects it from commercialism. So powerful is “Silent Night’s” message, that during World War I, a battle between German and British soldiers ceased as they sang of “heavenly peace.” When international opera star, Mme. Ernestine Schumann-Heink sang “Stille Nacht” as a world listened prayerfully to the radio, the fighting on many World War II battle fronts waited as the carol brought a few moments of peace to a war-torn world. Can a world whose generations have known atrocities and unthinkable terrors ever know “heavenly peace?” Perhaps, if we remember prayerfully. Perhaps, if we remember in our hearts. “Sleep in heavenly peace. Sleep in heavenly peace.”