The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1874-12-26
Christmas Carols.

Carol is said to be derived from can
tare, to sing, and role, an intersection
of Joy. That quaint writer, Jeremy
Taylor, observed that = Glory to God III
the highest; on earth, peace ana good
viii 10 men, which the angels sang ut
the birth OF Christ, was the first Christ
mas carol.
In Shakspeare's tim, carols were
sung IN the streets 1T night during
Christmas by the waits. who expected
to receive grstutites for their singing
The wakeful ketches on Christmas
Eve are mentioned by many a writer of
Old times and customs \ ter the
Reformation, thesinging Of atinhymns
was abolished IN the churches. ana the
sweet Christmas carols substituted.
There were two kinds Of Christmas
carols, those Of aTehgious nature, which
were sung not only in the churches, but
also through the streets from house to
house, on Christmas Eve. and, after
that, morning and evening until Twelfth
day: the others are OF a livelier charac-
ter, and adapted to the revel and the
feast. Some OF these latter were also
called wassail songs, and originated
with the AnglO-NOrmans, who We're of
81 most cOnylvlal nature No Christmas
entertainment was considered complete
without the singing of carols, and thence
came the old motto, "No song, no sup
pen" for every one at the table was ex-
pected to join in the carol. Saws an
English squire at his Christmas feast:
Not man here shall taste my March beer.
TIL Christmas carol he does sing.
oil .f1 rle.arr IL
sung
Til the hal and the parlor did ring.
From a quaint old work we clip the
following. "The antientest master of
of the revel Is, after dinner and supper,
TO sing carroll, or song, and to com
mand the other gentlemen present to
sing with him and the companie.
Some % these Christmas carols had
queer tides enough, and they seem to
have referred to all sorts Of subjects.
Here IS the dedication pretixed to one
IN the last century:
Christmas carol on SPeko Tea "a
sacred carol, which, like tea that is per
fecriv good and fine. viii be most crate
full and useful all the year round. from
Christmas to Christmas forever. Hum
bly, addressed TO Queen Caroline and
the Princess Caroline and the Royal
Family. BY Frances Hoffman. Lon
don. 1729.
\ curious piece OF antiquity is the old
carol entitled CHriStttS ndtilS est 1t
was something in this manner: The
cock croweth. ChriStlts Hdt1ls est
Christ IS born. The raven asked, Qv0a-
40 when? The crow replied. Hoe
a0cte-this night. The OK cryeth out,
vi? T-bi?-vhere where? The
sheap bleated out. Bctl1Iem-Bethe-
lem. 4 voice FROM heaven sounded,
Gloria ia erre7siS-glory be on high.
Another carol represents the Virgin
contemplating the birth of the Divine
Infant
He neither shall be clothed
In purple nor in pail,
But al in fair linen.
As We're babies al:
he neither shall be rockd
Bur III a wooden cradle
That rocks on the mould.
The poet Southery refers To the
singing Of carols and other customs at
Christmas. in his Joan OF Are, -
where he speaks of faithful servant
who fell upon the plain Of Patay.
5. In this lords castle dwelt, for many year.
\ we'll beloved servant; he could sing
Carols for Shrove-side- or for Condemns.
Songs Tor the wassel, and when the boar :
head
Crovn-li with gay garland, and with rosemary.
Smoak' on the Christmas board