9 Unfamiliar Christmas Carols that You should Listen to

 

The year 2020 is almost done. A year that most of us will always remember, and some would not like to remember. With an ongoing pandemic that clearly is threatening our Christmas celebration, this time we will have to do things a little differently.

One of our traditions for this time of the year consists of singing or listening Christmas Carols. This year, with most services cancelled, only a few lucky people will have the opportunity to sing them in a choir and probably using apps like Zoom. In 2016 I wrote an article recommending some common carols in different languages.

There are popular songs like “Silent Ninght” that are known in almost every culture and language. Today I want to write about some Christmas Carols that are not widely known. They might be popular in their respective countries and languages but not far from there. But in my opinion they are still very nice carols linked to important aspects of their own culture. Here is my list of 9 songs dedicated to those language lovers who like Christmas Carols sung in different languages.

1.- Es wird scho glei dumpa (It's Almost Dark)

This Christmas Carol appeared in Austria in 1884. It is believed that the composer was Anton Reidinger, a Catholic priest who lived in Oberösterreich (Upper Austria). It is traditionally sung in a German dialect from this same country, although there are versions in Standard German and English. You can read more and listen to it sung by different groups in this link.   

2.- Pe trouz war an douar (What noise is upon the Earth)

This Christmas Carol is sung in Breton (Brezhoneg), a Celtic language that is spoken in the lower Brittany in France. This song was composed by Pierre Noury, a catholic priest who had the position of rector of Bignan by the end of the 18^th century. You can find recordings and read the translations of the lyrics in French and English. 

3.- Olentzero

This is a Basque song for Christmas. Olentzero is the most popular Basque Christmas character and very often replaces Santa Claus. Olentzero is an old strong coal merchant who lives in the mountains. Every Christmas, he goes down the mountains and visit the different villages, bringing presents for the children. It is believed that before Christianity arrived, the real Olentzero was part of Basque mythology related with the winter solstice. Here I leave a link to a recording to this carol. You can find the story, the lyrics and translations of this song in English and Spanish.

4.- Jesus Refulsit Omnium (Jesus, Light of All the Nations)

This Christian hymn sung in Latin is not widely known. But this song is considered as the oldest known Christmas carol in the world. It was composed somewhere during the 4^th century AD by St Hilary of Poitiers. I leave here a link so you can listen to it.

5.- ალილო (Alilo)

It’s an expression of the Christmas traditions from the republic of Georgia. During the festive, people visit their friends and family and wish them merry Christmas singing Alilo the Georgian Christmas Carol. Each region of this country located in the Caucasus has its own version of this beautiful song. I chose to share a modern version composed by the great Georgian composer and conductor Vakhtang Kakhidze. The word Alilo is the adaptation in Georgian of “Hallelujah”. If you do not have time to listen to it by next Christmas day, do not worry, Georgians celebrate their Christmas, like Russians and Ukrainians, on January 7^th.

6.- The Huron Carol

I talked before about this Canadian Christmas song, composed originally in Wyandot language from the Huron area. It is also known as “Jesous Ahatonhia” (Jesus, he is born). It was composed by the Jesuit missionary Jean de Brébeuf in the mid 17^th century. I share here a link to a version in Wendat (Huron), French and English, performed by Heather Dale.

7.- Sizalelwe Indodana (Unto Us a Saviour is Born)

This Beautiful Christmas song is from South Africa. It is sung in isiZulu. The lyrics is very simple and is based in traditional local rhythms. Here is a link to it. 

8.- Noche Buena

If you know Spanish, you may think that this is a Christmas Carol from a Spanish speaking country. Noche Buena (night good) is a nickname for Christmas eve. But I am writing about a Christmas Carol from the Philippines that is sung in Tagalog. This country was under Spanish rule for 333 years and thus there is still a print left in their language and traditions. The music of this carol is similar to Spanish music and the lyrics talk about the dishes prepared for the Christmas celebration. 

9.- Tun Tun

This phrase in Spanish has the same effect as knock knock in English (The sound made when you hit the door). This is the name of a popular Christmas Carol from my native Venezuela. It was compiled by master Vicente Emilio Sojo and the lyrics describe a group of people knocking the door of a home to start the Christmas celebration and the arguments given by the home owner to refuse to open the door. I leave a link to a version I used to listen as a child during Christmas celebrations.