I totally am aware that Christmas isn’t for a week and a half. I’m going to be super busy with family things next week so I’m sharing these now!

On This Day Earth Shall Ring. I heard this one for the first time at Midnight Mass at either my grandparents’ Episcopal church (most likely) or my church in San Jose about 20 years ago. I love the joyful tone even in the minor key. The Latin doesn’t hurt either. 🙂

Transeamus usque Bethlehem. This is one I learned off of one of Mom’s Christmas CD’s. It’s a German Christmas carol sung in Latin. This particular version has some meaning to me because my mom has actually been to this particular cathedral — she was in Köln on a business trip in the late 90’s and saw this in her spare time.

Star in the East. This carol is done in the shape-note style which was a way of teaching singing and hymnody in the 19th century. It actually pre-dates many of our American Christmas carols. I heard it for the first time this year and I love the harmonies.

While By My Sheep I Watched At Night. I sang this for the first time with the adult choir of my church in San Jose in 1997. I was going through Christmas Eve stuff with them last week (even though I’ll be gone) and we sang through it. Daniel loves to sing “Joy Joy Joy” from the kid’s song “I’ve Got the Joy Joy Joy Joy Down in My Heart” and I had to laugh because it reminded me of him.

The Huron Carol. This carol was written by Jesuit missionary and martyr St. Jean de Brebeuf in 1643. I love the imagery of the Christmas story told in First Nation terms. The top video is done in the Huron language. The bottom one is done masterfully by the Canadian Tenors. This was also one of my late grandfather’s favorite carols so I think of him every time I have opportunity to sing it in church.

Go love up Ashley.