The Huron Carol

Unknown   Desember 24, 2014   Christmas   Comment  

The Huron Carol” (or “Twas in the Moon of Wintertime”) is Canada's oldest Christmas carol and a personal favourite of mine.  

It was written in 1643 by Saint Jean de Brebeuf, a Jesuit missionary to the Huron natives. Jean de Brebeuf lived amongst the Huron natives for twenty-two years, became fluent in their language, and made detailed observations about their culture and way of life. He wrote the lyrics to the Huron Carol in the native language of the Huron/Wendat people to bring them the story of Christmas. Even after Jean de Brebeuf was martyred when the Iroquois natives attacked the Huron settlement, the carol was kept alive in the Huron language for over one hundred years before it was translated into French.

I remember visiting Sainte-Marie among the Huron on the south shore of Georgian Bay many years ago. I always love visiting historic places, but this one was especially interesting because it was the first European settlement in Ontario and is where Jean de Brebeuf lived. 

I like this version of the Huron Carol sung by Five Fifths which you can listen to while reading the lyrics below.