"And many nations shall come and say,
"Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,
To the house of the God of Jacob, That He may teach us about His ways,
And that we may walk in His paths." For the law shall go forward from Zion,
And the word of the LORD, the revelation about Him and His truth from Jerusalem."
(Micah 4:2)
'Twas in the moon of wintertime
When all the birds had fled,
That Mighty Gitchi Manitou
Sent angel-choirs instead;
Before their light the stars grew dim,
and wond'ring hunters heard the hymn-
Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born,
In excelsis gloria.
Within a lodge of broken bark
The tender babe was found,
A ragged robe of rabbit skin
enwrapp'd His beauty round;
But as the hunter braves drew nigh,
The angel song rang loud and high-
Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born,
In excelsis gloria.
The earlies moon of wintertime
Is not so round and fair
As was the ring of glory on
The helpless Infant there.
The Chiefs from far before Him knelt
With gifts of fox and beaver pelt-
Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born,
In excelsis gloria.
O children of the forest free,
O sons of Manitou,
The Holy Child of earth and Heav'n
Is born to day for you.
Come kneel before the radiant Boy,
Who brings you beauty, peace, and joy-
Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born,
In excelsis gloria.
Said to be Canada's first Christmas carol, the lovely "Jesus Ahatonhia"
("Jesus Is Born") also known as the Huron Carol, was written for the Huron Indians
in their own language by French Jesuit Father Jean de Briebeuf (1593-1649)
who lived among them as a missionary. The carol was first sung in 1642.
Canadian journalist/ historian Jesse Edgar "J.E." Middleton (1872-1960)
translated the carol to English in 1926.
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