It’s December! I love Christmas, and if I’m honest, we’ve actually been listening to Christmas music since late November here at Raincity headquarters – in my defence, I do wait until after Remembrance Day (November 11) to start the annual musical rotation, and Canadian Thanksgiving was all the way back in October (when a harvest celebration should be).
As much as I love modern Christmas bops, I will always have a special place in my heart for hymns, including Advent hymns. I grew up Catholic, and for most Catholics, Christmas is a pretty big deal, second only to Easter for religious significance. There are many rituals and traditions surrounding the Advent and Christmas seasons in the Catholic religion, and I have fond memories of lighting the candles of the Advent wreath on the dining room table, setting up the nativity scene (we always kept the baby Jesus separate until Christmas eve) and of trying to stay awake for the entirety of midnight mass.
My partner and I aren’t religious, and our family celebration of Christmas is entirely secular, but I can still appreciate the sublime beautify of an ancient hymn, even if it no longer represents my spiritual beliefs.
Oh Come, Oh Come, Emmanuel is technically an Advent hymn – a worship song meant to be sung in the lead up to Christmas. Originally written in Latin as ‘Veni, Veni, Emmanuel’, the lyrics can be traced back to the early 1700s, with the first English translation being attributed to priest and scholar John Mason Neale, in 1851. This is a very old song.
The melody most commonly associated with the hymn can be traced back even farther, all the way back to 15th century France, though as with much ancient music, the exact originator is unknown.
Hymns like this speak to me in such a profound way. Listening to them performed, I imagine the countless generations of people of all walks of life, who sang and listened to them, in churches and cathedrals and homes in towns and cities across Europe and now around the world. It’s incredible to think that I am listening to a melody composed hundreds of years ago, a musical thread connecting us throughout the centuries and across continents. How powerfully evocative is that?
If you aren’t familiar with the hymn, you can learn more about its interesting history, and hear it performed, here.
I’m including the first verse below, but I highly recommend listening to it in its entirety, as it truly is magnificent.
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here,
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Oh, Israel, To thee shall come Emmanuel.
Do you enjoy the more traditional Christmas hymns, or is your Christmas playlist entirely modern? Or perhaps you don’t celebrate Christmas at all, in which case, I must apologize for the endless loop of Christmas music being blasted in your local shopping centre, which can be a bit much sometimes, even for me!
I hope everyone is having an absolutely wonderful December!
Linda over at A Word In Edgewise is hosting Poetry Friday this week – be sure to visit and be inspired by all the beautiful poetry on display!
Hi Jane! I enjoyed reading about the history of this one and know them all. Like you, I grew up in a church, but no longer attend. I still listen to every one and know most! I have liked watching all the Christmas shows on lately! Happy Holidays to you and your family!
Oh yes, we’ve been watching a program a night, to get into the spirit! Have you watched “Victorian Farm Christmas”? It’s one of my favourites!
I love singing “Rejoice!” So uplifting. Like you, I enjoy the “sublime beauty” of the old songs. There are a plethora this time of year– we are planning on listening to Handel tonight.
Jane, I do love Oh come Emmanuel. It is a joyful hymn indeed. I love the Christmas songs and hymns that make me feel cozy by the fireplace. It is cold here. I am still trying to get my Christmas decorations up. It’s slow going but I do love to look at the calming scenes they make. Enjoy the holidays.
What a beautiful post. I hadn’t thought about singing the same songs for hundreds of years, but that is a fascinating connection.