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The Huron Carol
![]() Twas in the Moon of Wintertime
![]() Written in 1643
![]() by Jean de Brébeuf
![]() ![]() ![]() Cornelius David Krieghoff, Indian Hunter, c. 1855
![]() In 1926, Jesse Edgar Middleton wrote the English lyrics used today for the Anglican hymnal.
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() 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 wondering hunters heard the hymn,
![]() Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born, in excelsis gloria.
![]() ![]() ![]() Within a lodge of broken bark the tender babe was found;
![]() A ragged robe of rabbit skin enwrapped his beauty round
![]() But as the hunter braves drew nigh
![]() the angel song rang loud and high
![]() Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born, in excelsis gloria.
![]() ![]() ![]() 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.
![]() Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born, in excelsis gloria.
![]() ![]() ![]() O children of the forest free,
![]() O seed 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.
![]() Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born, in excelsis gloria.
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() O na wateh wado:kwi nonnwa 'ndasqua entai
![]() ehnau sherskwa trivota nonnwa 'ndi yaun rashata
![]() Iesus Ahattonnia, Ahattonnia, Iesus Ahattonnia
![]() ![]() ![]() yauntaun kanntatya hm-deh 'ndyaun sehnsatoa ronnyaun
![]() Waria hnawakweh tond Yosehf sataunn haronnyaun
![]() Iesus Ahattonnia, Ahattonnia, Iesus Ahattonnia
![]() ![]() ![]() Tishyaun ayau ha'ndeh ta aun hwa ashya a ha trreh
![]() aundata:kwa Tishyaun yayaun yaun n-dehta
![]() Iesus Ahattonnia, Ahattonnia, Iesus Ahattonnia
![]() ![]() ![]() avwa tateh dn-deh Tishyaun stanshi teya wennyau
![]() aha yaunna torrehntehn yataun katsyaun skehnn
![]() Iesus Ahattonnia, Ahattonnia, Iesus Ahattonnia
![]() ![]() ![]() kiyeh kwanaun aukwayaun dehtsaun we 'ndeh adeh
![]() tarrya diskwann aunkwe yishyehr eya ke naun sta
![]() Iesus Ahattonnia, Ahattonnia, Iesus Ahattonnia
![]() ![]() This version performed by Heather Dale, and sung in Wendat (Huron), French and English
![]() ![]() ![]() TRANSLATION -- "Jesus, He is Born"
![]() Have courage, you who are human beings: Jesus, he is born
![]() The okie spirit who enslaved us has fled
![]() Don't listen to him for he corrupts the spirits of our thoughts
![]() Jesus, he is born
![]() The okie spirits who live in the sky are coming with a message
![]() They're coming to say, "Rejoice!
![]() Mary has given birth. Rejoice!"
![]() Jesus, he is born
![]() Three men of great authority have left for the place of his birth
![]() Tiscient, the star appearing over the horizon leads them there
![]() That star will walk first on the bath to guide them
![]() Jesus, he is born
![]() The star stopped not far from where Jesus was born
![]() Having found the place it said,
![]() "Come this way"
![]() Jesus, he is born
![]() As they entered and saw Jesus they praised his name
![]() They oiled his scalp many times, anointing his head
![]() with the oil of the sunflower
![]() Jesus, he is born
![]() They say, "Let us place his name in a position of honour
![]() Let us act reverently towards him for he comes to show us mercy
![]() It is the will of the spirits that you love us, Jesus,
![]() and we wish that we may be adopted into your family
![]() Jesus, he is born
![]() ![]() ![]() The "Huron Carol" (or "'Twas in the Moon of Wintertime") 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 a traditional French folk song, "Une Jeune Pucelle" ("A Young Maid"). The well known English lyrics were written in 1926 by Jesse Edgar Middleton.
The English version of the hymn uses imagery familiar in the early 20th century, in place of the traditional Nativity story. This version diverts 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 shepherds, 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. It is also sung by Canadian musician Tom Jackson during his annual Huron Carole show.
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."
![]() ![]() This carol page is dedicated to my friends Thomas and Colleen Kozlowski
![]() of Barking Rock Farm
![]() The Huron Carol
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