‘* oise, and r a : : a an OL Santa’s Shop by Mariita lsidoro / Laan ihe The fine hist ne y of caroling This ancient singing tradition dates back to 129 A.D. HAT WOULD Christmas be without carols? These tradi- tional songs express the joy, awe and merriment of the season so well for us all. As a matter of fact, the custom of singing Christmas carols dates ‘back to.129 AD. Some carols are so old no one is sure just when they were written. Other carols are of more recent origin and so we know more about ‘how. they came to be writ- ~ tén. Isaac Watts was a Calvinist preacher who enjoyed writing poetry. The words of the Ninety- eighth Psalm were especially in- spiring to the English clergyman: -. “Make.a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth; make a loud rejoice, and sing praise”’. Watts: decided to write a hymn of rejoicing. The result was ‘Joy _.. to the. World,’ which was pub- . lished in 1719, It was originally ~ sung . Hodges, but eventually, the words --were sel to music by Handel and : that is how we know this. beauti- to music by Edward fil hymn ‘nday. . ‘One of the most beloved carols of all was inspired by the birth of an infant on Christmas Eve, in a small Alpine Village in Northern Austria. Falher Joseph Mohr had been fretting over the fact that the church organ was in need of repairs, and due to a heavy snow- fail, no one could come to repair the instrument in lime for Christ- mas services. The pricst’s thoughts were in- terrupted by a knocking at the first Christmas Eve. After impart- ing his blessing 10 the young fam- ily, Father Mohr walked back to his home, savoring the stillness of ihe snowy scene. Al home, he set about to wrile a pocm describing his impressions. The next morning, he hurried to the home of the church organist, Franz Gruber, who promised to write music for the poem. With only a guitar for accompaniment, Some carols are so old no were written. one is sure just when they door; it was a woman of the vil- lage, who told him that the wood- culter’s wife had just given birth to a son, The woodeuiter was most anxious that the priest come and bless the mother and_ child that night. . Despite the heavy snowfall, Fa- ther Mohr hiked several miles to the woodcutter’s cabin and was rewarded with an unforgettable sight. The new father and mother were gazing happily at the infant ° in iis crib; reminding tie pricst of “ Jesus, Mary and Joseph. on that ‘Mohr and Gruber sang ‘‘Silent Night, Holy Night’’ for the. first time, in the village church on Christmas Day, 1818. Many Christmas carols have originated from folk melodies. “Deck the Halls’’ for instance, is a_tradi- tional Welsh melody. In Wales, the custom of bringing greenery into the home at Christmas lime gave rise to this popular carol. - The poet Henry. Wadsworth LongféHow* ‘had ‘ ‘reecivéd'' bad news after Thanksgiving Day, 1863: his son had been severely wounded in a battle of the Civil War. As the family anxiously awailed news of the young man, the poct expressed his gricf in a poem ‘I heard the bells on Christmas Day’. The words, which end on a note of hope for peace on earth, were later sel to music by J. Baptiste Calkin. _ Many carols were written by clergymen. Such was ‘the case with the lovely song, “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear”. A min- ister, Edmund Sears, is credited . with writing the words to that carol, afler gazing at the snow- covered landscape surrounding his home in New England, As Sears looked up at the snow | failing on that peaceful landscape, thoughts of impending struggle must have been on his mind, as he wrote of the "Earth’s Babel sounds" in his poem. The poem was set to music by a friend, Richard S. Willis. In these equally troubled times, its mes- sage of "Peace on earth, good will to men from Heav’n’s all- gracious” King" is’ * just as. méaniigfulas' iv was ‘6ver'a hun- dred years ago. The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, December 23, 1992 - Page C9 f— ; \ pernocanann” 4711 Lakelse Ave., > ~ Because good customers are-ai-such-a).-.. -premium these days, we're extra” grateful for your loyal support. Totem Petro-Can Service (N & J Service Centre Ltd.) : 635-4515 } May your gladness know no bounds on this joyous occasion. BERT’S DELICATESSEN - 4603 Park Avenue 635-5440 nA NLDA Many thanks for the many * kind things you do for us HS ss through the year, Se @ Che Fabric em —™ Boutique 3308 Kalum St., Terrace, B.C. 638-1335 _and Best Wishes for the New Year NE i bua a Membor of the Legisintive Agssambly Waesday, December 22, 1992 2 g ~) Earth | = Gr eetings of the Season. ee — Far Skeonm oPrEMNM EoOoUsSsSE #2-446273 Park Awenue SB3:30 - 6:00 p.m. Any 6 | ik NotA Creature 3 Was Stirring... We'd like to stir things up a bit by wishing you and your family a _ foyous and exciting season. Thank you for your support. Pad * ag 58] — Tite. 2 savy; : i = . : i _ CU cae mgt a afflteny Ww tei, oll tt yllll leony y fhe. tf ta i “ lt. ow %, ayy . . mm