6. Dezember | Nikolo
Das "Huron Carol" gilt als das älteste Weihnachtslied Kanadas. Es ist wirklich für die Huronen (ja, genau die!) geschrieben,
im Original auf Wendat-Huronisch. Jean de Brébeuf, ein französischer Jesuit, kam um 1625 als Missionar nach Québec. Er interessierte
sich wirklich für "seine" Huronen, lernte die Sprache und verfasste sowohl einen huronischen Katechismus als auch ein huronisch-französisches
Wörterbuch. Die Bibelgeschichten transponierte er in die huronische Kultur; so entstand auch das ihm zugeschriebene Lied "Jesous
Ahatonhia" (Jesus ist geboren); als Melodie verwendete er ein altes französisches Volkslied: La jeune pucelle verwendet nur
fünf Töne und war so für die huronischen Instrumente spielbar. Brébeuf und seine Huronen wurden von Irokesen gemartert und
ermordet.
Das Lied wurde im 19. Jahrhundert ins Englische übertragen und unter dem Titel "Huron Carol" populär. Diese Aufnahme mit einem
kanadischen(!) Wiener Sängerknaben entstand 1999.
'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."
- Jesse Edgar Middleton
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."
- Jesse Edgar Middleton
6 December | St Nicholas
The Huron Carol (aka Jesous Ahatonhia) is considered to be the oldest Canadian Christmas carol. It was indeed written for the Hurons, originally in Wendat-Huronian. Jean de Brébeuf, a French Jesuit, arrived in Québec as a missionary around 1625. He took a genuine interest in the Hurons and their culture. He learnt the language and wrote a Huron catechism as well as a Huron-French dictionary. He transposed the Bible stories into Huron culture; this is how ‘Jesous Ahatonhia’ (Jesus, he is born) came about. Brébeuf used an old French folk song for the tune: the pentatonic La jeune pucelle could easily be played on Huron instruments. Brébeuf and his Hurons were martyred and murdered by Iroquois.
In the 19th century, the song was translated into English and gained popularity under the title ‘Huron Carol’. This recording with a Canadian(!) member of the Vienna Boys Choir was made in 1999.
