There is some revolutionary spirit to be found in old Christmas carols. I have an ear worm of, "Masters in this Hall" the last 2 days. Here is the beginning:
"Masters in this hall, hear ye news today.
Brought from over sea and ever I you pray
Chorus:
Nowell, nowell, nowell, nowell sing we clear!
Holpen are all folk on Earth, born is God’s Son so dear
Nowell, nowell, nowell, nowell sing we loud
God today hath poor folk raised and cast a-down the proud"
Wm. Morris, 1860.
O' Tannenbaum (O Christmas Tree) was based on a 16th-century Silesian folk song about faithfulness. No baby births here.
Greensleeves is the original tune which "What Child is this" was re-texted.
Carol of the bells is a New Year's song from Ukraine.
Holly and the Ivy is WAY old, pre-Christian.
12 Days of Christmas is likely an update to the much older Scottish "Yule Days" (does to 13)
There are more to dig into, and have some fun with the songs.
So, my truncated point was that many currently Christmas songs, were co-opted from previous cultures, and the words were often about tearing down the slave/owner structures.
Right there with you, friend.
Wassail,
David
There is some revolutionary spirit to be found in old Christmas carols. I have an ear worm of, "Masters in this Hall" the last 2 days. Here is the beginning:
"Masters in this hall, hear ye news today.
Brought from over sea and ever I you pray
Chorus:
Nowell, nowell, nowell, nowell sing we clear!
Holpen are all folk on Earth, born is God’s Son so dear
Nowell, nowell, nowell, nowell sing we loud
God today hath poor folk raised and cast a-down the proud"
Wm. Morris, 1860.
O' Tannenbaum (O Christmas Tree) was based on a 16th-century Silesian folk song about faithfulness. No baby births here.
Greensleeves is the original tune which "What Child is this" was re-texted.
Carol of the bells is a New Year's song from Ukraine.
Holly and the Ivy is WAY old, pre-Christian.
12 Days of Christmas is likely an update to the much older Scottish "Yule Days" (does to 13)
There are more to dig into, and have some fun with the songs.
So, my truncated point was that many currently Christmas songs, were co-opted from previous cultures, and the words were often about tearing down the slave/owner structures.