The Huron Carol

The story of Canada’s oldest Christmas song, the “Huron Carol,” is fascinating.

Jean de Brébeuf was a French Jesuit missionary who came to Canada in 1625, in order to share the Gospel with the Huron Native American tribe. For nearly several decades, Brébeuf labored as a missionary among the Huron, making slow yet determined progress to bring a Roman Catholic understanding of Christianity to a people who were suspicious of European missionaries. In 1649, Brébeuf was captured by the Iroquois when they destroyed a Huron mission village. Brébeuf was subsequently tortured and martyred. Brébeuf was beatified as a saint in 1930.

Anecdotally, it is said that the name “lacrosse” was first given by Brébeuf  to the Native American sport, since the sticks in the game resembled a bishop’s cross.

The bulk of Brébeuf’s work was in learning how to master the language of the Hurons. He wrote the “Huron Carol” originally in the Wyandot language, probably in 1642. The song goes under different names, such as “Twas in the Moon of Wintertime,” and “Jesus Ahatonia.”  Jesse Edgar Middleton translated the most well known version of the song to English in 1926.  You can sense how Brébeuf tried to use concepts familiar to the Huron in an effort to present the story of the birth of Jesus to them:

‘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.”

Loreena McKennitt’s version of the Huron Carol is a soothing celebration of Christ’s birth, amid the hustle and bustle of this season. In a world where darkness clouds our vision, the birth of the Savior brings light in the midst of despair.