Christmas personified. Is it a legitimate thing to do? I suppose what happens is one gathers the essence of Christmas and bundles it into a single individual. That's rather what Saint Nicholas and Father Christmas are supposed to be. My personification always materialized out of Charles Dicken's description of the ghost of Christmas present in A Christmas Carol crossed with the Green Knight from Sir Gawain and The Green Knight.
Whatever image one has in his head, I've noticed it tends to be a jolly middle-aged or older gentleman wearing bright colors and speaking good cheer to everyone about. If nothing else, it makes for a jolly good set of imagery.
The song for today is based off of this personification which predates the middle ages. It's a song that conjures up the image of great halls and roaring fires with a noble stranger coming by to wish the inhabitants good cheer and proclaim the good news of Christmas. A noble song, story, and message.
His name is Sir Christemas. (Pronounced: Chris te mas)
It's a happy song; a song of rejoicing. It proclaims the Christmas clearly and succinctly. Half in English, half in French, the words very obviously sixteenth century or modernized from even before, Sir Christemas gives us the ultimate message of Christmas: A Saviour is born. Rejoice, and be glad!
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,
Who is there that singeth so,
Nowell, Nowell?
I am here, Sir Christèmas.
Welcome, my Lord Sir Christèmas!
Welcome to all, both more and less!
Come near, Nowell!
Dieu vous garde, beaux sieurs,
tidings I you bring:
A maid hath born a child full young,
Which causeth you to sing:
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell.
Christ is now born of a pure maid;
In an ox-stall he is laid,
Wherefore sing we at a brayde:
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell.
Buvez bien par toute la compagnie.
Make good cheer and be right merry,
And sing with us now joyfully:
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell.
Rejoice this Christmas and don't entirely ditch the jolly old men even if, like me, you don't care for Santa Claus. The tradition isn't entirely bad.
0 comments:
Post a Comment