Huron Carol



The "Huron Carol" (or "Twas in the Moon of Wintertime") is a Canadian Christmas hymn (Canada's oldest Christmas song), written probably in 1642 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 based on a traditional French folk song, "Une Jeune Pucelle" ("A Young Maid"). The well-known English lyrics were written in 1926 by Jesse Edgar Middleton and the copyright to these lyrics was held by The Frederick Harris Music Co., Limited, but entered the public domain in 2011.

The English version of the hymn uses imagery familiar in the early 20th century, in place of the traditional Nativity story. This version is derived from Brébeuf'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" who bring him "fox and beaver pelts" instead of the more familiar gold, frankincense and myrrh. The English translation uses a traditional Algonquian name, Gitchi Manitou, for God, which is not in the original Wyandot version. The original lyrics are now sometimes modified to use imagery accessible to Christians who are not familiar with aboriginal Canadian cultures.

The song remains a common Christmas hymn in Canadian churches of many Christian denominations. It is also found in several American hymnals, including The Hymnal 1982 of The Episcopal Church (#114), The United Methodist Hymnal (#244) and Evangelical Lutheran Worship (#284).

Because the melody spans a modest range, it is ideally suited to instruments that have a limited pitch range, such as the Native American flute.

Versions
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". Bruce Cockburn has also recorded a rendition of the song in the original Huron. Tom Jackson performed this song during his annual Huron Carole tour. Crash Test Dummies did it on their 2002 album, Jingle All the Way. A haunting choral arrangement by R. Anderson was included on the 1997 album The Mystery of Christmas, by the Canadian group the Elora Festival Singers. The music has been rearranged by Loreena McKennitt under the title "Breton Carol" in 2008. A new recording with a very mystical setting of the Huron Carol was released in 2011 performed by The Canadian Tenors. In 2001, Terry McDade and The McDades recorded a version featuring Indian bansuri on their Free Radio Records release "Midwinter". In 2002, Heather Dale released a trilingual version (Wendat [Huron], French, English) on her This Endris Night album, updated in 2017 as a YouTube video with an American Sign Language translation. Dale uses a very different English translation, attributed to Father H. Kierans. Sarah McLachlan recorded the song on her 2016 holiday album, Wonderland, released on the October 21, 2016.

Huron
The original words of the carol in the Wyandot language (Huron).

Estenniayon de tsonwe Iesous ahatonnia onn' awatewa nd' oki n' onyouandaskwaentak ennonchien eskwatrihotat n'onyouandiyonrachatha Iesous ahatonnia, ahatonnia. Iesous ahatonnia.

Ayoki onkiennhache eronhiayeronnon iontonk ontatiande ndio sen tsatonnharonnion Warie onn' awakweton ndio sen tsatonnharonnion Iesous ahatonnia, ahatonnia. Iesous ahatonnia.

Achienhkontahonraskwa d' hatirihwannens tichion sayonniondetha onhwa achia ahatren ondaie te hahahakwa tichion sayonniondetha Iesous ahatonnia, ahatonnia. Iesous ahatonnia.

Tho ichien st' ahation tethotondi Iesous ahwatatende tichion stanchitehawennion asayontorenten ihatonk atsion sken Iesous ahatonnia, ahatonnia. Iesous ahatonnia.

Onne ontahation chiahonayen iesous ahatichiennonniannon kahachia handiayon te honannonronkwannion ihotonk werisen Iesous ahatonnia, ahatonnia. Iesous ahatonnia.

Te hekwatatennonten ahekwachiendaen ti hekwannonronkwannion de sonywentenrände outoyeti skwannonhwe icherhe akennonhonstha Iesous ahatonnia, ahatonnia. Iesous ahatonnia.

English
The 1926 English version by Jesse Edgar Middleton.

'Twas in the moon of winter-time 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 excelsis gloria."

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

English Translation of the Wendat
Have courage, you who are humans. Jesus, He is born. Behold, it has fled, the spirit who had us as prisoner. Do not listen to it, as it corrupts our minds, the spirit of our thoughts. They are spirits, coming with a message for us, the sky people. They are coming to say, 'Come on, be on top of life, rejoice!' 'Mary has just given birth, come on, rejoice.' 'Three have left for such a place; they are men of great matter.'

'A star that has just appeared over the horizon leads them there.' 'He will seize the path, a star that leads them there.' As they arrived there, where He was born, Jesus. The star was at the point of stopping, He was not far past it. Having found someone for them, He says, 'Come here.' Behold, they have arrived there and have seen Jesus. They praised a name many times saying, 'Hurray, He is good in nature.' They greeted Him with respect, Oiling His scalp many times, saying, 'Hurray!' 'We will give to Him honour to His name.' 'Let us oil His scalp many times, show reverence for Him, As He comes to be compassionate with us.' It is providential that you love us, and think 'I should make them part of My family.'