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Getting into the Christmas Spirit...
Dec. 14th, 2010 02:11 pmI'm not sure if I've mentioned it before, but in between studying, I've been working at Fort Edmonton in the evenings, mostly on the weekends, for their Christmas Reflections programming. I do things like light the bonfires, answer people's questions, make sure everyone knows about the free hot chocolate and cider (and the sugar cookies, fresh-baked in the old wood stove at Henderson house!), sometimes helping out with children's crafts, etc. There are also sleigh rides with a Christmas-centered history tour throughout the park, and carolers wandering about singing historical versions of popular Christmas carols. :) It's lovely, and has a beautiful atmosphere. The older buildings are lit up with lights, and Mother Nature has obligingly given us several good sprinklings of snow to decorate everything.
I wanted to also state first off that I'm not all about putting the "Christ back in Christmas" or whatever. I think that it's a lovely winter holiday (especially needed to break up the dreary long winters with a bit of joy and cheer), and a good chance to eat good food and spend time with your families. Also, while I'm not big on Christianity, I do absolutely ADORE Christmas carols. Say anything else of them, but the churches knew how to write good songs. ;) I will sing all about the glory of Christ if it's done beautifully. Maybe I'm hypocritical and shallow in this respect, but I equally love songs like "The Holly and the Ivy", "Good King Wenceslas", "I Saw Three Ships", "O Come All Ye Faithful", and "We Three Kings of Orient Are." I don't distinguish between the Christian, pagan, or commercial songs very much. I'm not as fussed about some more modern songs: whether or not I like "Jingle Bell Rock" depends on the version, and I absolutely hate with an unabiding passion the song "Santa Baby". Maybe it's because it played on the radio every fifteen minutes back when I worked at Superstore, from November 1st until December 31st, but it grates in my ears. Also, I don't see Santa as sexy, but maybe that's just me. Huggable, yes, sexy, no. Seducing Santa Claus sounds far too much like prostitution for me to actually like that song, even if it weren't sung in the most annoying voice possible. :P
( Cut for discussions of lesser known verses of Jingle Bells... )
( Cut for discussions of the history behind "The Huron Carol", my favourite (and Canadian!) Christmas song... )
Anyway, I found this lovely version sung in Wendat, French, and an older English translation.
If you want an idea of what the popular English lyrics sound like, see here. This English translation follows more closely the idea of Brébeuf's lyrics as opposed to the direct translation of the Huron.
I wanted to also state first off that I'm not all about putting the "Christ back in Christmas" or whatever. I think that it's a lovely winter holiday (especially needed to break up the dreary long winters with a bit of joy and cheer), and a good chance to eat good food and spend time with your families. Also, while I'm not big on Christianity, I do absolutely ADORE Christmas carols. Say anything else of them, but the churches knew how to write good songs. ;) I will sing all about the glory of Christ if it's done beautifully. Maybe I'm hypocritical and shallow in this respect, but I equally love songs like "The Holly and the Ivy", "Good King Wenceslas", "I Saw Three Ships", "O Come All Ye Faithful", and "We Three Kings of Orient Are." I don't distinguish between the Christian, pagan, or commercial songs very much. I'm not as fussed about some more modern songs: whether or not I like "Jingle Bell Rock" depends on the version, and I absolutely hate with an unabiding passion the song "Santa Baby". Maybe it's because it played on the radio every fifteen minutes back when I worked at Superstore, from November 1st until December 31st, but it grates in my ears. Also, I don't see Santa as sexy, but maybe that's just me. Huggable, yes, sexy, no. Seducing Santa Claus sounds far too much like prostitution for me to actually like that song, even if it weren't sung in the most annoying voice possible. :P
( Cut for discussions of lesser known verses of Jingle Bells... )
( Cut for discussions of the history behind "The Huron Carol", my favourite (and Canadian!) Christmas song... )
Anyway, I found this lovely version sung in Wendat, French, and an older English translation.
If you want an idea of what the popular English lyrics sound like, see here. This English translation follows more closely the idea of Brébeuf's lyrics as opposed to the direct translation of the Huron.
