December 16th – A little sheepish
In Scotland, at least, ‘tis the season of all things wool – woolly sweaters, hats and gloves, to keep the chill at bay, and this carol, “The Shepheards song: a caroll or hymne for Christmas” (author Edmund Bolton,…
Category: University Collections
December 15th – By the fruits of her labours
Today’s pick is another plucked from the basket of oddball carols. To the modern layperson’s ear, “Mary and the cherries” does not immediately conjure up any of well-known stories of the season. Donkey, oxen and manger…
December 14th – Reflecting on the stars
While at times – especially in the depths of December – the small City of St Andrews can feel very far from the centre of the universe, academic exploration in this corner of Fife has long contributed to our knowledge…
December 13th – All a-buzz with festive spirit
The twelfth-night tradition of wassailing, either awakening orchard trees with singing and cider or roving groups of wassail-singers visiting homes, is a custom associated with the south-west of England. Yet in recent…
December 12th – Has anyone seen this chicken?
Many of us will feast on turkey this festive season, which may even be followed by a family favourite animation featuring a rubber-glove-combed penguin. So, while it doesn’t sound a jot like “Deck the Halls”, this wee…
December 11th – Away in a manger
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…
December 10th – None but the howlets
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…
December 9th – A semely song
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,…
December 8th – Whole ‘quires’ of angels sing
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):…
December 7th – Singing like a bird
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…