Best Loved Christmas Carols, Readings and Poetry

In the heavenly country bright

Need they no created light;

Thou its light, its joy, its crown,

Thou its sun which goes not down;

There for ever may we sing

Alleluias to our King.

William Chatterton Dix (1837–98)

Away in a manger (#ulink_2b2b2d67-c94d-51c8-a0a4-cbfc871408e3)

The authorship of this hugely popular Christmas carol is often credited, mistakenly, to Martin Luther, probably because it was first published in a Lutheran hymnal early in the nineteenth century. In fact, the author is unknown, although the third verse is known to have been the work of John Thomas McFarland (1851–1913). The carol is thought to have been first performed by American Lutherans in 1883 during celebrations of the 400th anniversary of Luther’s birth. It is sung in the UK to a tune by William J. Kirkpatrick (1838–1921), but in the USA to a tune by James R. Murray (c.1841–1905).

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,

The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head;

The stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay

The little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay.

The cattle are lowing, the Baby awakes,

But little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes.

I love thee, Lord Jesus! Look down from the sky,

And stay by my cradle till morning is nigh.

Be near me, Lord Jesus: I ask thee to stay

Close by me for ever, and love me, I pray;

Bless all the dear children in thy tender care,

And take us to heaven to live with thee there.

Anonymous

Behold a virgin shall conceive (#ulink_da34c308-736f-5c38-b1a3-f2f8bc94e8ae)

This brief passage, from Isaiah 7:14–15, looks forward to the birth of Christ in the years to come. It gives details of a virgin who would give birth to a son. His name would be ‘Immanuel’, which means ‘God with us’ (Matthew 1:23).

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. (#ulink_f01ef178-1cad-5344-92d8-a24fcd62872c) Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel. He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good.

The boar’s head carol (#ulink_02081149-0609-5f66-b724-395fea921d9a)

This old English carol is traditionally sung as the main dish (a wild boar’s head) is brought in during the Christmas feast at Queen’s College, Oxford. It has remained in use, sung to a tune written as late as 1901, despite the fact that wild boars became extinct in England by the end of the seventeenth century.

The boar’s head in hand bear I, (#ulink_ab2e2f1d-5394-5d67-a031-88248d09295b)

Bedecked with bays and rosemary;

And I pray you my masters be merry,

Quot estis in convivio.

Caput apri defero

Reddens laudes Domino.

The boar’s head, as I understand,

Is the bravest dish in all the land

When thus bedecked with a gay garland;

Let us servire cantico.

Our steward hath provided this

In honour of the King of Bliss,

Which on this day to be served is

In Reginensi Atrio.

Anonymous

Brightest and best of the sons of the morning (#ulink_06241c78-2e58-56b9-873a-96a1ac94bf83)

This carol was written by Reginald Heber, the Anglican vicar of the small Shropshire village of Hodnet, on Epiphany Sunday, 1811. His inspiration was Matthew 2:1–12, the Gospel reading for that particular day. The carol became widely popular, being taken up with particular enthusiasm by Methodists, Baptists and Presbyterians. Heber went on to serve as Bishop of Calcutta, where he eventually died. His other compositions include the hymn ‘Holy, holy, holy’.

Hail the blest morn! See the great Mediator (#ulink_f2b12c45-2d6c-5e69-ade1-2fbb505e0e8d)

Down from the regions of glory descend!

Shepherds, go worship the Babe in the manger!

Lo! For his guard the bright angels attend.

Brightest and best of the sons of the morning,

Dawn on our darkness and lend us thine aid;