Mideival & Renaissance Christmas

Noel [noh-el] –
noun – a Christmas song or carol

We are all very familiar with The First Noel but have you ever wondered what came after that? The first specifically Christmas hymns that we know of appear in fourth century Rome.   Like all Christian music of the medieval period, these were Latin hymns used specifically for liturgical purposes. Instruments were never used; all songs were performed a cappella. Christmas music was not sung outside of churches. One example of this type of hymn is Veni Redemptor Gentium.

While today Christmas is considered one of the primary holidays of the Christian faith, it was not always this way. During the time of the Renaissance, Christmas was a much more solemn affair than it is today. It was a day of prayer and reflection, and was observed primarily with a special mass – the “Cristes Maesee”, or the “Mass of Christ.”

The biggest celebration of the season during the Renaissance was Twelfth Night, the night before Epiphany. It was held that the Epiphany marked the date, twelve days following Christmas, when the Magi found the newborn Christ child and presented him with gifts. The modern custom of exchanging gifts at Christmas is generally believed to be a continuance of the tradition started by the three Wise Men.

The so-called “Twelve Days of Christmas” begins at sundown on December 24th and lasted until Epiphany, on January 6th. During the Renaissance, Twelfth Night marked the ‘official’ end of the Christmas (or winter) holiday season and was the traditional day for taking down Christmas decorations.

From Twelfth Night During the Renaissance

During the Renaissance music was taken outside the walls of the church and into the streets. Christian music was translated from Latin to the language of the common people. One of the earliest and best-known carols of the Renaissance era is In dulci jubilo.

In dulci jubilo (“In sweet rejoicing”) is a traditional Christmas carol. In its original setting, the carol is a macaronic (mixed language) text of German and Latin dating from the Middle Ages. Subsequent translations into English, such as J.M. Neale’s arrangement “Good Christian Men, Rejoice” have increased its popularity, and Robert Pearsall’s 1837 macaronic translation is a mainstay of the Christmas Nine Lessons and Carols repertoire. J.S. Bach’s chorale prelude based on the tune (BWV 729) is also a traditional postlude for Christmas services. (Wikipedia)

Here is an instrumental version I thought you might enjoy.

Next time: Wassup With Wassailing?