The Huron Christmas Carol, from Family Christmas OnlineTMWherever French explorers, trappers, and traders went in the new world, Jesuit priests accompanied them. The French Jesuits worked hard to build bridges to the Native Americans they encountered. Unfortunately, many of the cultures that the French Jesuits befriended were later endangered by diseases from Europe, other native groups that had been displaced by the British, and finally, a flood of English-speaking settlers moving west. In fact, most of what we know about may native cultures is from the extensive logs (called "Relations") that the French Jesuits sent back to their superiors in Europe.The "Huron Christmas Carol" is a reminder of the tenacity, devotion, and commitment to the native people that were shown by "black robes" such as Pere Marquette and Jean de Brebeuf. About the Author - Between 1626 and 1649, a Jesuit named Jean de Brebeuf lived and worked with the Huron people whenever he had the chance. Most of this time among the Hurons was spent near the Georgian Bay, an inlet of Lake Huron. The "relations" he sent back to Europe describing his experiences provide a wealth of information on the people and practices he observed. By the late 1640s, though, the Huron were being pressured by disease, crop failures, and incursions by Iroquois who were had been forced west by settlements in "New England." Occasionally the "Black Robes" were blamed by the Huron community for these misfortunes, and once de Brebeuf and his companions even drew up their wills. But many in the community respected de Brebeuf, and he escaped harm from the Hurons. In March, 1649, de Brebeuf faced his death alongside many Hurons who were captured in an Iroquois raid. A survivor reported that he faced death by brutal torture with grace and peace.
In 1926, Jesse Edgar Middleton created English lyrics that stressed de Brebeuf's desire to reach across cultures - in fact, Middleton mentions more aspects of Native American culture than de Brebeuf's French lyrics. Today, this song is celebrated in Canada as the first Canadian Christmas carol. But many others around the world appreciate this song for its haunting melody and enchanting lyrics, as well as de Brebeuf's attempts to bring universal truths to a people for whom he would eventually give his life.
Note: For more information about stamps honoring the Jesuits, click here. As I understand it, Gitchi Manitou means "the Great Spirit." In some Algonquian cultures, that Spirit could do evil as well as good. If you have any corrections, additions, or other comments you would like to make about this page, please contact me and I will be glad to hear from you. God bless - Paul To hear an MP3 file of the song click here. To download the sheet music for this song in pdf format, click here Es-ten-ni-a-lon de tso-nu-e Ie-sus a-ha-ton-ni-a, On-na-u-a-te-ua 'd'o-ki n'on-an-das-kua-en-tak; En-on-chi-en skua-tri-ho-tat h'o-nu-an-di-lon-ra-cha-tha: Ie-sus a-ha-ton-ni-a, a-ha-ton-ni-a; Ie-sus a-ha-ton-ni-a. 'Twas in the moon of wintertime when all the birds had fled That mighty Gitchi Manitou sent angel choirs instead; Before their light the stars grew dim and wondering 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;
The earliest moon of wintertime is not so round and fair
O children of the forest free, O seed of Manitou
'Twas in the moon of wintertime when all the birds had fled
Within a lodge of broken bark the tender babe was found;
The earliest moon of wintertime is not so round and fair
O children of the forest free, O seed of Manitou
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About the Song About 1634, de Brebeuf attempted to retell the story of Jesus' birth in a way that made sense to the Huron people. He set both Huron and French lyrics to a French Canadian folk melody.
In Canada, the song is celebrated as the first Canadian Christmas carol. In 1977, children's book artist Ronald G. White painted three stamps that illustrated the wandering hunters finding their way to the manger.
In part, de Brebeuf's message was that the true "Great Spirit" wanted the best for the Huron people, and He sent the Best to them.