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Song: God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
1. Song: God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
The song "
God rest ye merry gentlemen" was written in England in 1833 by William Sandys.
"rest" means "keep" or "maintain" as in "not moving" or "resting". Rest assured!
"merry" meant "strong" as in "good health" or "good spirit".
Meaning: God keep you strong and in good spirits, gentlemen. Why? Because "
Christ our Savior Was born on Christmas Day".
In 1843,
Charles Dickens, wrote the novel "
A Christmas Carol" (Scrooge, Tiny Tim, etc.), evoking nostalgia from some 30 years before.
Song: "God rest you merry, gentlemen".
Book: "God bless you, merry gentlemen".
2. Gentle
Gentle meant useful. A "
gentleman" is someone who makes themselves useful. The fruit of the spirit called "
gentleness" is, in the Greek, that of "
usefulness".
"tidings" are "news" as in the "Good News".
3. 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.
4. William Sandys
An English song, the song had been sung in many variations until published in one form in 1833 by William Sandys.
5. Meaning
What does "
God rest ye merry gentlemen" mean?
Some choices: (commas can be important)
God rest ye, merry gentlemen.
God rest ye merry, gentlemen.
Trivia question: What happens to Mary, Joseph, and the baby in the manger, without commas?
6. Differences
The song uses the word "
rest", the story uses the word "
bless".
The comma is misplaced in the song. It is
not "God rest you, merry gentlemen",
but "God rest you merry, gentlemen",
What did the words mean at that time?
7. Word meanings
The word "merry" means "good spirits" or "strong" or even "great".
8. Sentence meaning
It is not "you merry gentlemen" should be given "rest" by "God".
It is more that "God should keep you gentlemen strong and in good spirits.".
Why? Because "Christ our Savior Was born on Christmas Day".
9. A Christmas Carol
About ten years later, in 1843, Charles Dickens, wrote the novel "
A Christmas Carol".
He used "God bless you, merry gentlemen!, may nothing you dismay!", instead of
"God rest you merry gentlemen" (comma misplaced).
What was nostalgic for people reading the novel at the time? What happened in 1816?
10. Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens grew up around 1816, the year without a summer. For a few years it snowed a lot, but then the snow stopped falling as much in England.
So the snow in "
A Christmas Carol" brought back memories of childhood, or earlier times, for many readers.
Ebenezer Scrooge scared the lad away. He should have heeded the warning.
"Remember Christ our Saviour was born on Christmas Day".
11. End of page