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Saturday, December 21, 2024

Merry Yule!

26°f, -3°C, snow flurries and icy after yesterday's rain. A proper start to winter and to welcome Solstice.

Found on Facebook

The wheel turns, and round we go again to welcome the Oak King! (In this folkloric tradition, the Holly King represents the gradual fading away of green and light, while the Oak King represents the slow stirring of life beginning again, and the return of green.)

A song to welcome the season: Welcome Yule


This is, I think, another example of a very old song "Christianized" to blend the old traditions with the new religion. These lyrics are from the best carols website on the internet, in my opinion, The Hymns and Carols of Christmas.

Welcome be thou, heaven-king,
Welcome born in one morning,
Welcome for whom we shall sing,
Welcome for whom we shall sing,
Welcome Yule.1

2. Welcome be ye, Stephan and John,
Welcome Innocents every one
Welcome Thomas Martyr one,
Welcome Thomas Marty one,
Welcome Yule.

3. Welcome be ye, good New Year,
Welcome Twelfth Day, both in fere,2
Welcome saints lef and dear,
Welcome saints lef and dear,
Welcome Yule.

4. Welcome be ye Candlemas,
Welcome be ye, Queen of Bliss,
Welcome both to more and less,3
Welcome both to more and less,
Welcome Yule.


I learned the song from an old video found online, in which the verses were arranged differently, and it did not double the third line. The melody was also quite different, much simpler than the very pretty one above.

So, welcome Winter! And welcome light!


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20 comments:

  1. TomSat Dec 21, 11:24:00 AM

    ...thanks for the exclamation of the the Holly King and the Oak king.

    ReplyDelete
  2. gzSat Dec 21, 12:13:00 PM

    People do not think that there were carols ( which just means "songs") in pre Christian times!
    Another is the Holly and the Ivy....
    Solstice Blessings Be.. welcome the light

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Granny SueMon Dec 23, 11:17:00 AM

      The Holly and the Ivy is another of my favorites, gz.

      Delete
  3. Barbara RogersSat Dec 21, 02:51:00 PM

    Another song I've never heard, but it's beautiful! I just looked at a picture I used from the internet which says its the Holly King handing his crown to the Oak King...but it shows the young man's antlers with holly leaves (as anyone knows them, don't they?) Phoey, I shared it already. Happy Solstice as the light returns for all.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Live and LearnSat Dec 21, 03:30:00 PM

    I think carols are one of the best part of Christmas. Thanks for introducing me to another new one.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Granny SueMon Dec 23, 11:18:00 AM

      Agreed! I love most of the old carols. Some of the newer ones, not so much. Just a fuddy-duddy I guess.

      Delete
  5. AnvilcloudSat Dec 21, 05:20:00 PM

    That one doesn't ring any bells for me. Wickedly cold here today with the windchill. We headed out for a walk, but it quickly became a shorter walk than usual. We turned at the corner and scurried back home -- not that either of us can scurry, especially me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Granny SueMon Dec 23, 11:19:00 AM

      Ha, I chuckled at your sedate scurry! But I can't move very fast any more myself. Yes, you have it a lot colder than we do for sure!

      Delete
  6. AnonymousSat Dec 21, 06:47:00 PM

    Yes, happy first official day of Winter!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousSat Dec 21, 06:48:00 PM

    Oops, that was me GM

    ReplyDelete
  8. CatalystSat Dec 21, 07:01:00 PM

    The mandolin player appears to be transfixed. Or sleepy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Granny SueMon Dec 23, 11:20:00 AM

      Yes, not my favorite rendition, but I could not find the one I liked.

      Delete
  9. DebbySat Dec 21, 11:33:00 PM

    I have never heard of that song. I love how you share your culture with us. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Angie's RecipesSun Dec 22, 12:54:00 AM

    Have never heard of Holly King and the Oak king before..Happy Winter and happy holidays, Sue.

    ReplyDelete
  11. MichelleSun Dec 22, 05:30:00 PM

    I am glad to see the return of lighter days, even if it is bit by bit.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Granny SueMon Dec 23, 11:21:00 AM

      Yes, me too. Although I appreciate the winter slowdown. We all need it.

      Delete
  12. David M. Gascoigne,Mon Dec 23, 07:08:00 AM

    There are carols that seem to become a dirge and those that are pleasing. I’ll be glad when the stores stop playing them ad infinitum. Sometimes they are so awful you would swear that they are performed by the high school choir at their first practice.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Granny SueMon Dec 23, 11:25:00 AM

      I am fortunate enough to not have to go into the stores much during the holiday season. We have no TV service so no endless commercials or Hallmark movies ad nauseum either. I listen to NPR, so no radio commercials. That leaves me free to really enjoy what holiday music I choose to listen to. I have a large stack of CDs (no streaming here either), with a wide variety of good performances. Just a pleasure to listen to.

      Delete

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