The”Huron Carol” is known to us by the more familiar words: “Twas in the moon of wintertime when all the birds had fled…”  These are two English translations of the “Huron Carol” written in the Huron/Wendat language by St. Jean de Brébeuf.

This carol is one of the first that comes to my mind when I think of Christmas.  My first introduction to it occurred when I was thirteen and my aunt asked me to copy the music for her choir; I was proud to do it, and it took me a week! It had to be perfect!  I have always loved the tune and the words.

I recently discovered the above literal translation by John Steckley/Teondecheron on the internet.  Further on in this literal translation:  “Marie, she has just given birth. Rejoice! Jesus, he is born.”  The three elders having arrived and seen Jesus, “They praised (made a name) many times, saying ‘Hurray, he is good in nature.  They greeted him with reverence (greased his scalp many times), saying ‘Hurray’ Jesus, he is born”.

This translation, and another quite similar, are also beautiful and true to First Nations culture as I understand it.  And they are beautiful and inspiring to me…

If you Google “The Huron Carol”, you will find many further sites, among others one of Bruce Cockburn, which I found quite enlightening.