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Caroling and hymns
1. Caroling and hymns
2. Christmas carol jokes
Here are some Christmas carol jokes.
What is the favorite type of music for Christmas carolers?
wrap music
Why do some carolers have a ladder?
To reach the high notes.
What is a dad's favorite Christmas carol?
Silent Night.
3. More Christmas carol jokes
What should you give carolers when they sing for you?
Har-money.
Which Christmas carolers are the most noticeable?
The one's with presence.
Dad to son: Forget the past. You can't change it.
Son to dad: Forget the present. I did not get you one.
4. A Christmas carol
The book
A Christmas Carol, with Scrooge, by Dickens was written in 1843 at a time when Christmas traditions, including caroling, were being re-evaluated. [1815, Waterloo, 1816, snow]
What carols are heard in the desert?
O camel ye faithful and little drummer boy with a-hump a-hump hump.
5. Scrooge
The miser
Scrooge can be compared with
birds caroling and singing
cheap, cheap, cheap as in "
save, save, save".
When is the best time to buy a bird?
When it is going cheap.
Why did Scrooge keep a pet lamb?
Because it would say, "Baaa humbug!"
Who and how did Scrooge win the football game?
The ghost of Christmas passed.
6. Verse 1
God rest ye merry gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
Remember Christ our Savior
Was born on Christmas Day
To save us all from Satan's pow'r
When we were gone astray
Oh tidings of comfort and joy, Comfort and joy
Oh tidings of comfort and joy.
7. Choir
The English word
"choir" comes from the Middle English word
"quere" ≈ "choir" which comes, through French, from the Latin word
"chorus" ≈ "chorus" (of any kind) which comes from the ancient Greek word
"χορός" ≈ "company of dancers or singers".
Lamentations 5:15 The joy of our heart is ceased; our dance is turned into mourning. [kjv]
κατελυσεν χαρα καρδιας ημων εστραφη εις πενθος ο χορος ημων [lxx]
… gaudium … chorus … [v]
8. Lamentations 5:15
KJV: The joy of our heart is ceased; our dance is turned into mourning.
Hebrew: שבת משוש לבנו נהפך לאבל מחלנו׃
Greek: κατελυσεν χαρα καρδιας ημων εστραφη εις πενθος ο χορος ημων
Latin: defecit gaudium cordis nostri versus est in luctu chorus noster
9. Psalms and hymns
Ephesians 5:19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; [kjv]
λαλουντες εαυτοις ψαλμοις και υμνοις και ωδαις πνευματικαις αδοντες και ψαλλοντες τη καρδια υμων τω κυριω [gnt]
… psalmis … hymnis … canticis … cantantes … psallentes … [v]
The English word
"hymn" comes, through Latin, from the ancient Greek word
"ὕμνος" ≈ "song, hymn, ode".
The modern Greek word
"ύμνος" (EE-mnos) ≈ "hymn".
10. Ephesians 5:19
KJV: Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
Greek: λαλουντες εαυτοις ψαλμοις και υμνοις και ωδαις πνευματικαις αδοντες και ψαλλοντες εν τη καρδια υμων τω κυριω
Latin: loquentes vobismet ipsis in psalmis et hymnis et canticis spiritalibus cantantes et psallentes in cordibus vestris Domino
11. Revelation
12. Revelation 18:8
KJV: Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.
Greek: δια τουτο εν μια ημερα ηξουσιν αι πληγαι αυτης θανατος και πενθος και λιμος και εν πυρι κατακαυθησεται οτι ισχυρος κυριος ο θεος ο κρινων κρινας αυτην
13. Revelation 18:10
KJV: Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city ! for in one hour is thy judgment come.
Greek: απο μακροθεν εστηκοτες δια τον φοβον του βασανισμου αυτης λεγοντες ουαι ουαι η πολις η μεγαλη βαβυλων η πολις η ισχυρα οτι εν μια ωρα ηλθεν η κρισις σου
14. Revelation 18:11
KJV: And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:
Greek: και οι εμποροι της γης κλαιουσιν και πενθουσιν επ αυτη αυτην οτι τον γομον αυτων ουδεις αγοραζει ουκετι
15. Revelation 18:22
Revelation 18:22 And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee; [kjv]
και φωνη κιθαρωδων και μουσικων και αυλητων και σαλπιστων ου μη ακουσθη εν σοι ετι και πας τεχνιτης πασης τεχνης ου μη ευρεθη εν σοι ετι και φωνη μυλου ου μη ακουσθη εν σοι ετι [gnt]
… tuba … [v]
A brass instrument such as a
"trumpet" is a long
"tube" which is the source of the English word
"tuba" from the Latin word
"tuba" ≈ "long trumpet".
16. Rome and the Trinity
In the first few centuries after Christ, the heresy of Arianism promoted their ideas through catchy tunes (of musician Arius) with clever words that expressed those ideas. Here is an example.
We praise him as without beginning,
because of him who has a beginning.
And adore him as everlasting,
because of him who in time has come to be.
17. Rome and Ambrose
The first Christmas hymns date back to the late 300's in Rome. These developed over time to what we have today. Ambrose countered Arius with hymn words such as the following.
All laud to God the Father be;
All praise, eternal Son, to thee;
All glory, as is ever meet,
To God the holy Paraclete.
Augustine refers to the hymns of
Ambrose in his work
Confessions. When asked by Augustine about what to do in Rome whose church had some different rituals, Ambrose said that when he was in Rome, he did as was done in Rome.
18. Words
Words mean things.
How careful are we today about the words in the songs we sing? Do we even know what those words mean or from whence they came?
Many churches that deny (or simply ignore) the Bible about the second coming of Christ (King, Avenger of Blood) will sing "
Joy to the world" which is based on Psalms 98 and is about that second coming of Christ.
19. Verse 4
He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love
And wonders of His love
And wonders, wonders, of His love
20. English
The first English Christmas carols appeared in the 1400's and were often based an much earlier Latin texts.
These carols were often sung by "
wassailers" who went from house to house singing. These songs were often sung during the Fall season in addition to Christmas.
21. Song: Here we come a caroling
The song "
Here we come a caroling" had many other names such as "
Here we come a wassailing" and is sung for well-wishing, singing carols, etc. The linguistic progression is as follows where the "
a-" prefix is sometimes called an "
intensifying prefix".
go on hunting |
go a hunting |
go hunting |
A hunting we will go |
six geese on laying |
six geese a laying |
six geese laying |
Twelve days of Christmas |
go on caroling |
go a caroling |
go caroling |
Here we come a caroling |
The English song dates to the 1800's but appears to be much older. It was sometimes used by groups of beggars to put others in a good mood to be more generous.
22. A hunting we will go
The folk song "
A hunting we will go" is from 1777 by English composer Thomas Arne. Different animals can be substituted in each verse (with other appropriate words).
A-hunting we will go.
A-hunting we will go.
Heigh-ho, the derry-o,
a-hunting we will go.
A-hunting we will go.
A-hunting we will go.
We'll catch a fox and put him in a box
and never let him go.
The last line is now "
And then we'll let him go". Jesus uses the word "
fox" to describe Herod while "
hunting" is often described in the Bible.
Matthew 8:20 And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. [kjv]
23. Song: Twelve days of Christmas
The "
twelve days of Christmas", is a cumulative song first published in the 1780. It started with pagan origins.
Pre-Christian Yule (geol) festivals during winter solstice. Green and red colors.
Carols such as "Deck the Halls", as a covering as in "Thatch the halls", etc. [decorations, ship's deck, decked out, toga, stegosaurus]
Fast until end of Christmas Eve.
12 days of celebration after Christmas day until Epiphany (magi).
How many total gifts when the song is sung (sing, sang, sung) through completely?
364 plus the baby Jesus
The Christmas song "
The twelve days of Christmas", in the final verse, has
12 lines, or parts, and
78 gifts. The number
78 is an example of a "
triangular number". The song is sung over and over.
24. Final verse
On the
twelfth day of Christmas my true love sent to me:
12 Drummers Drumming, 11 Pipers Piping,
10 Lords
*a Leaping, 9 Ladies Dancing
8 Maids
*a Milking, 7 Swans *
a Swimming
6 Geese
*a Laying, 5 Golden Rings,
4
Calling Birds, 3 French Hens,
2
Turtle Doves, and a Partridge in a Pear Tree
*Older English often used "a" before verbs such as "a Hunting" we shall go.
Calling birds were collie birds or coal birds or black birds.
Turtledoves, sound tur-tur-tur, had nothing to do with turtles.
25. Triangular number 12
The Christmas song "
The twelve days of Christmas", in the final verse, has
12 lines, or parts, and
78 gifts. The number
78 is an example of a "
triangular number". The song is sung over and over.
How many total gifts?
364 plus the baby Jesus
26. Number of the fish
After the resurrection, Jesus appears while the disciples are fishing.
John 21:11 Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken. [kjv]
Triangular number
17 has a value of
153 and was known in ancient Greek times as the "
number of the fish". No one knows why John used this number.
27. Be healthy
This Old Norse phrase "
ves heil" as "
be healthy" or "
be sound" or "
be saved" is the origin of the Christmas (Winter Solstice yule time) custom of the "
wassail" bowl (from 1275) that typically contains a spiced ale for the celebration time near Christmas Eve.
Matthew 9:21 For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. [kjv]
… byo hal … [wes]
… gesund. [lu]
Be healthy. Be holy. Be saved.
Happy Holy Days, Happy Holidays.
28. Matthew 9:21
KJV: For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.
Greek: ελεγεν γαρ εν εαυτη εαν μονον αψωμαι του ιματιου αυτου σωθησομαι
Latin: dicebat enim intra se si tetigero tantum vestimentum eius salva ero
Wessex: hyo cwaeð soðlice on hire mode. for an ich byo hal gyf ich his reafes aet-rine.
Wycliffe: For sche seide with ynne hir self, Yif Y touche oonli the cloth of hym, Y schal be saaf.
Tyndale: For she sayd in her silfe: yf I maye toche but even his vesture only I shalbe safe.
Luther: Denn sie sprach bei sich selbst: Möcht' ich nur sein Kleid anrühren, so würde ich gesund.
29. Verse 1
Here we come a-caroling,
Among the leaves so green,
Here we come a wand'ring,
So fair to be seen.
Love and joy come to you,
And to your wassail too
And God bless you and send you a Happy New Year,
And God send you a Happy New Year.
30. Verse 2
We are not daily beggars
That beg from door to door,
But we are neighbors' children
Whom you have seen before.
Love and joy come to you,
And to your wassail too
And God bless you and send you a Happy New Year,
And God send you a Happy New Year.
31. Verse 3
God bless the master of this house,
Likewise the mistress too;
And all the little children
Whom you have seen before
Love and joy come to you,
And to your wassail too
And God bless you and send you a Happy New Year,
And God send you a Happy New Year.
32. Verse 4
And all your kin and kinsfolk
That dwell both far and near,
I wish you Merry Christmas
And Happy New Year.
Love and joy come to you,
And to your wassail too
And God bless you and send you a Happy New Year,
And God send you a Happy New Year.
33. Reformation
During the Reformation, Martin Luther authored many songs and carols and promoted their use in religious settings.
John Wesley and
Martin Luther on bar melodies for hymns: "
the devil should never have all the good tunes".
34. English
Here are some hymns and carols from the 1500's.
Christ was born on Christmas Day
Adeste Fideles - O Come all ye faithful
(which goes back to the 1300's)
35. Nineteenth century
Here are some hymns and carols from the 1800's.
|
I saw three ships
It came upon a midnight clear.
|
36. End of page