Taken from a medieval source, this carol transcribed by Thomas Wright has many of the hallmarks of the seasonal songs we still sing today: In wynter quan the frost hym fres, A power beddyng our Lord hym ches; Betwyin…
We’ve all heard of “The Holly and the Ivy”, but what about “The Ivy and the Holly”? Pay closer attention to the version of this popular carol we hear most often, and you will begin to notice a theme – it’s all holly…
This medieval song takes us into a flourishing springtime garden, to hear the Christmas story. Our narrator leads us through lush greenery to a scene of trees filled with singing doves. Here we meet a dazzling woman,…
Philosopher and admirer of Descartes, Henry More, provides us with today’s carol. Published under More’s pseudonym “Francisus Palaeopolitanus”, it appears towards the end of his snappily titled (take a breath):…
Perusing popular lyrics of bygone decades suggests that, unlike the carols with which we are more familiar today, many traditional carols eschewed wintery scenes and snow for verdant abundance and tropical colour. The…
Although we now recognise good ole’ St Nick as the jolly rotund fellow in red, who brings gifts to nice children on the 25th of December, it was the 6th of December which was traditionally celebrated as the Feast of St…
Here’s a wee verse from a book of children’s rhymes by Hamish Hendry, from 1897, with illustrations by Alice. B. Woodward. “We made a man all by ourselves; we made him jolly fat; We stuck a pipe into his face and on…
Exploring the rare books brought to light through a simple search for “carols” brought up a few oddballs, and this is one of them. This earnest – and lengthy – battle-cry of a hymn is tucked into the Hay Flemming…
Today’s choice is taken from the charmingly titled “The poets’ Christmas: a collection of carols, poems, and plays for Christmastide. With a plea for a village drama”, by W. T. Stead (1890). Seemingly on a mission to…
The St Andrews student newspaper “College Echoes” from December 1925 provides what is simply described as a “traditional carol”: “Carol, carol, merrily, Christ is born for us today Christ is come on earth to stay.…