Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-12-24
CAROLS ON EVE
OF NATIVITY
Charming Old Custom of Singing
in Christmas Revived in Phila-
delphia Neighborhoods

DHILADELPliIA will carol the Yuletide in
more extensively and molodiouslv than
ever before this year. This most Atnericor
or American cities, with its traditions rootinp
deep In the past, has always honored old
ways while enterprsingly engaged in pro-
gressive activities.
Perhaps no city Of the United States can
point to so many survivals of the charming
customs of old as PHILADELPHIA. such 40 tho
masque Of the New Years Shooters" the
burning or bayberry candles in the windows
and the Christmas Eve waits" one of tho
most interesting and ancient of all
Progress in the community singing noye-
Hient curing the last year or so will put con-
certed eHort back of the volunteer spirit of
| previous years. Formerly members of church
| choirs or individuals banded together vent
| about on the eve of the Nativity singing old
rounds, ditties and hymns This wear there
VIII be good deal Of such spontaneous and
| scattered vocalism and also inpromptu sing
| Ing OF organized neighborhoods. Some carols
| We're sung yesterday. West Philadelphia had
a big singing festival at Black Oak Parl,
| last night and In the afternoon the Philadei
| phia Community Chorus. augmented bv choir
singers and residents Of Frankford Kensing-
Ton and Tioga held Christmas song service
| at the Frankford High School
| The waits" are so old an institution that
| the origin and meaning of the word have been
| lost In the mists of unchroncled davs
| Thomas Rvmer about 1900 speaks Of Tho
waEte that niFhtelye pipeth the watch" in
| dicating that the wait was person The
| medieval Famous Historic of Doctor
| Faustus' includes the waits" among musical
| instruments Later the term became indiffer-
| emily applied to special music sung prior 70
Christmas and the aggregations of singers
edly: ' 10 D''00uo'-
God rest you, merry gentlemen.
ror Let Jespa n1thinS cSrst gGu or GsTssyj ga yyjorr
| To save ali from Satan's power
= When W., were gone astray.
Por dass 1esns OF tsrat SG%fST' onr Hga ssvSSr Sy
| Was born on Christmas Day
Nov, to the Lord sing praises.
Ard viii. true love and motherhood
This hsin hoS S't%E tide nSY of chTIstmss c1hmIsrnSe
Al others doth eirace rsiss'"'
sung by simple swains of the sixteenth CEN
tury:
%hfn " Christ was S born no Of Mary free
| In Excelsis Gloriai
Tss r King sCsIGo Is come 9s,S to save Smssnkind
| Therefore this song we have In mind
| In Excelsis Gloria!
George Nither seventeenth-century poet,
wrote the following somewhat secular carol:
EacS Let sSsm sysry WisS %sn = Glly saye. !. ar.,
And every post with holly,
Though some churs at our mirth repine,
| Round your foreheads garands twne,
| Drown sorrow In cup of wine
| And let US all be merry.
Now all our neighbors' chimneys smoke,
| And Christmas blocks are burning;
| Their ovens they with baked meats choke
| And all their spits are turning.
| WITHOUT the door let sorrow lyc,
| And II for cold II hap to dive.
| Well buryt In a Christmas-pye
| And evermore be merry!
The Star Song" of Robert Herrick poet
| ical parson of post ELI "a bethan days, in its
almost oriental imagery is aglow with the
spiritual and religious significance of the
| feast:
| Tell u.s. thou clear and heavily tongue,
| Where is the Babe that lately sprung?
| Lies he the lily banks among2
| Or say II this new birth OF ours
| Sleeps laid within some ark OF flowers,
| Spangled with dewlight: thou canst clear
| All doubts and manifest the where.
| Declare to U.S. bright star. IL we shall seek
| Him in the morning's blushing cheek,
Or search the beds Of spices through
| To find him out?
The guiding light referring to the Star o.
| Bethlehem.