The “Huron Carol” is one of my favorite carols. I heard it every year growing up in Canada, and its gentle melody evokes my childhood memories of the hush of the cold, snowy winter nights in the woods of Northern Ontario. The Chancel Choir will be singing a beautiful choral arrangement of it at this year’s 5:00 pm Christmas Eve service, and I hope the following will help give us a deeper context and appreciation for this carol.
If you’re familiar with the “Huron Carol”, you will notice that the choir’s words are different from the ones in our hymnal. This is a small step towards truth and reconciliation. There is just so much to say about the history of the Indigenous People of North America, and the impact colonialism and racism has had on their lives and cultures. Thankfully, there is good and beautiful work being done in the spirit of reconciliation, and we are using are new lyrics written in this spirit from Dana Lynn Seaborn. These words, as well as information about her and the carol, can be found here:
https://seabornsong.com/the-huron-carol/
The original words for this carol, from the 1640s, were in the Wendat language. The following website has these words, with an English translation, and also has links to different recordings including one in the Wendat language:
https://www.greatlodge.ca/post/the-huron-carol
And if you’re interested in learning more about the history of the Wendat people and what is currently happening with “The Huron Carol” in different Indigenous groups, I recommend this article:
https://broadview.org/the-complex-history-of-the-huron-carol/
I love this carol now more than ever, thanks to the thoughtful work of those who help us move towards a more aware and just future.
Peace and blessings,
Lucy
