I will add to this file as time permits. I have the information just not the time yet to get it up here!

'Twas in the Moon of Wintertime

Jesuit priest Jean de Brebeuf was sent as a missionary to the Huron and Iroquois nations during the European colonization of North America. This folk tune from Provence ("A Young Maiden") was probably a favorite from Father Jean's childhood, and he wrote a Christmas trext in the Huron tongue to fit it, personalizing the story by changing a few details to reflect the Huron way of life, a common method the Church used to transmit knowledge orally.

The text is unusual and following stanzas difficult to locate, so I include the full text here.

'Twas in the moon of wintertime
when all the birds had fled.
When mighty Gitchi Manitou
sent angel choirs instead.
And on that night, the stars grew dim
while wand'ring hunters heard the hymn:
"Jesus our King is born. Jesus is born!
In excelsis Deo!"

Within a lodge of broken bark
the tender Babe was found.
A ragged robe of rabbit skin
enwrapped His beauty 'round.
And as the hunter braves drew nigh,
the angel song rang loud and high:
"Jesus our King is born. Jesus is born!
In excelsis Deo!"

Ye children of the forest free,
ye sons of Manitou:
the Holy Child of earth and heav'n
is born this day for you.
Come, kneel before the radiant Boy
who brings you beauty, peace, and joy.
"Jesus our King is born. Jesus is born!
In excelsis Deo!"

The Twelve Days of Christmas

Now, then, it's hard for me to believe that a Twelfth Night-like carol has its roots in double-entendre, but here are the things that the stanzas are supposed to represent.

1. Partridge in a pear tree: Jesus
2. Two turtle doves: Old and New Testaments
3. Three French hens: faith, hope, and love (why not the Holy Trinity?)
4. Four calling [colly = black] birds: four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John)
5. Five golden rings: Torah (first five books of the Old Testament)
6. Six geese a-laying: six days of creation
7. Seven swans a-swimming: gifts of the Holy Spirit (prophecy, serving, teaching, exhortation, contribution, leadership, and mercy)
8. Eight maids a-milking: eight Beatitudes
9. Nine ladies dancing: nine fruits of the Holy Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control)
10. Ten lords a-leaping: Ten Commandments
11. Eleven pipers: eleven faithful Apostles
12. Twelve Drummers Drumming: twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed (I'm a Methodist, so I have to research exactly what these are for Catholics! If any reader knows, please email me!)