The Huron Carol

Christmas Carol written in 1643 by French Jesuit Father Jean de Brebeuf while he was on mission to convert the Wendat Amerindian nation that lived on the southern shores of Georgian Bay and the eastern shores of Lake Huron proper. Jean de Brebeuf was later martyred by the Iroquois, and he was canonized St Jean de Brebeuf in the 20th century.

This version of the song is sung by Toronto-based singer Heather Dale. And she is singing it in three languages: Wendat, French and English.

Translation of the Wendat lyrics:

1. Estennialon de tsonoue Jesous ahatonnhia
Onn'a ouateoua d'oki n'onlouandaskouaentak
Ennonchien skouatrihotat n'onlouandilonrachatha
Jesous ahatonhia, ahatonhia! Jesous ahatonhia! /

1. Have courage, you who are human beings: Jesus, he is born.
The okie spirit who enslaved us has fled.
Don’t listen to him for he corrupts the spirits of our thoughts.
Jesus, he is born.

2. Aloki onkinnhache eronhialeronnon
iontonk ontatiande ndio sen tsatonnharonnion
Ouarie onnaouakoueton ndio sen tsatonnharonnion
Jesous ahatonhia, ahatonhia! Jesous ahatonhia! /

2. The okie spirits who live in the sky are coming with a message.
They’re coming to say, “Rejoice! Mary has given birth. Rejoice!”Jesus, he is born.

The very first Canadian Christmas Carol was written in 1643, by Father Saint Jean de Brebeuf, 1593-1649 It was meant as a gift and teaching aid for the Huron People. Father Brebeuf was a Jesuit Missionary and Linguist stationed at Ste. Marie Among the Hurons.

Written originally in the Huron language; the carol at some point in time, was translated into French. Mr. Jesse Edgar Middleton translated the carol into English in 1926, from a French Translation and gave it a new name.

I had wondered about the differences in wording between the Huron Carol and Middleton's Twas In The Moon Of Winter. Mr Steckley; a translator at Humber College; pointed out, it was Middleton who created the lyrics for Moon of Winter probably because of difficulty with the flawed French Translation.

Even when all the translation difficulties are taken into consideration, The Huron Carol or Twas In The Moon Of Winter Time does not lose Father Brebeuf's message.

Father Saint Jean de Brebeuf lost his life March 16 1649, during the Iroquois uprising of 1648/1650, when he was captured and slain by the Iroquois. On June 29 1930 Father Brebeuf was canonized by Pope Pius XI.
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