A Five Hundred Year Old Christmas Carol

In searching for old Christmas carols, I ran across this ancient carol from the 1500’s. I wrote about it in a blog a year ago but I think it's worth another look.


From Christmasse Carolles, Wynkyn de Worde, 1521.

1. In this time of Christmas,
Betwixt an ox and an ass,
A maiden delivered was
Of Christ, her dear Son dear.

2. The husband of Mary(Saint)
Joseph stood her by,
And said he was ready
To serve her if need were.

3. When she her dear Son see,
She set Him on her knee,
And sang, 'Hither to me,
Come buss Thy mother dear."

4. On her lap she Him laid,
And with her pap He played,
And ever sang the maid:
"Come buss Thy mother dear."

5. With lips culling (His),
His mouth oft she did kiss,
And said: "Sweetheart mine,
I pray You, make good cheer."

6. To this Child let us pray,
That born was on this day,
Of Mary, the mild may,
To grant us all good cheer.

There’s nothing like a 500 year old hymn to start your day. I have found that a little culture of this sort puts me in a more “Proper” mood as I appreciate simplicity a bit more. It puts me in the mood to read the Dickens “A Christmas Carol” again. Here is what Dickens wrote about his book:

“I have endeavoured in this Ghostly little book, to raise the Ghost of an Idea, which shall not put my readers out of humour with themselves, with each other, with the season, or with me. May it haunt their houses pleasantly, and no one wish to lay it.”

Their faithful Friend and Servant,

C. D.
December, 1843.

I wonder if he had any idea of the impact it would have through the centuries.