Huron Carol

Huron Carol (eller Twas in the Moon of Wintertime) er en katolsk julesang opprinnelig på indianerspråk fra det som i dag er Canada.

Beskrivelse
Den ble skrevet i 1643 av jesuittpateren Jean de Brébeuf, en katolsk prest og misjonær i Sainte-Marie among the Hurons/Sainte-Marie-au-pays-des-Hurons. Jean de Brébeuf skrev teksten på det lokale språk for folket huron/wendat; og sangens egentlige tittel er «Jesous Ahatonhia» («Jesus, han er født»). Sangens melodi er fra en tradisjonell franskspråklig folkevise,  «Une Jeune Pucelle» («En ung jomfru»). Den velkjente teksten på engelsk ble skrevet i 1926 av Jesse Edgar Middleton.

Teksten på engelsk har juletema med Jesu fødsel, slik som man pleide å skildre det tidlig på 1900-tallet.

Sangen var med som  «Jesous Ahatonia» på Burl Ives' album Christmas Day in the Morning fra 1952 og ble relansert senere på singel under tittelen «Indian Christmas Carol.» Bruce Cockburn har også spilt inn sngen. Den ble også sunget av Tom Jackson under hans årlige show Huron Carole.

Tekst

Huron / wyandot

Engelsk
'Twas in the moon of winter-time
When all the birds had fled,
That mighty Gitchi Manitou
Sent angel choirs instead;
Before their light the stars grew dim,
And wandering hunters heard the hymn:
"Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born,
In excelsis gloria."

Within a lodge of broken bark
The tender Babe was found,
A ragged robe of rabbit skin
Enwrapp'd His beauty round;
But as the hunter braves drew nigh,
The angel song rang loud and high...
"Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born,
In excelsis gloria."

The earliest moon of wintertime
Is not so round and fair
As was the ring of glory
On the helpless infant there.
The chiefs from far before him knelt
With gifts of fox and beaver pelt.
Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born,
In excelsis gloria.

O children of the forest free,
O sons of Manitou,
The Holy Child of earth and heaven
Is born today for you.
Come kneel before the radiant Boy
Who brings you beauty, peace and joy.
"Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born,
In excelsis gloria."

English Translation of the Wendat
Have courage, you who are humans. Jesus, He is born.
Behold, it has fled, the spirit who had us as prisoner.
Do not listen to it, as it corrupts our minds, the spirit of our thoughts.
They are spirits, coming with a message for us, the sky people.
They are coming to say, 'Come on, be on top of life, rejoice!'
'Mary has just given birth, come on, rejoice.'
'Three have left for such a place; they are men of great matter.'

'A star that has just appeared over the horizon leads them there.'
'He will seize the path, a star that leads them there.'
As they arrived there, where He was born, Jesus.
The star was at the point of stopping, He was not far past it.
Having found someone for them, He says, 'Come here.'
Behold, they have arrived there and have seen Jesus.
They praised a name many times saying,
'Hurray, He is good in nature.'
They greeted Him with respect,
Oiling His scalp many times, saying, 'Hurray!'
'We will give to Him honour to His name.'
'Let us oil His scalp many times, show reverence for Him,
As He comes to be compassionate with us.'
It is providential that you love us, and think
'I should make them part of My family.'

Referanser

Julesanger
Verk fra 1643
Verk fra 1926
Jesuittordenen