Article

Huron Carol

Published Online January 17, 2012

Last Edited January 28, 2014

Jesous Ahatonhia ("Estennialon de tsonoué Iesous ahatonnia"; also known as "Noël huron" and "Canadian Christmas Carol"). It was notated in the late 18th century by a priest at La jeune Lorette, Qué, from the singing of a HURON from the eastern Georgian Bay area.

Huron Carol

Jesous Ahatonhia ("Estennialon de tsonoué Iesous ahatonnia"; also known as "Noël huron" and "Canadian Christmas Carol"). It was notated in the late 18th century by a priest at La jeune Lorette, Qué, from the singing of a HURON from the eastern Georgian Bay area. The plausible story that it was written by the missionary Father Jean de Brébeuf, who was active in that area between 1634 and 1648 and who was a skilled linguist, persists, but no assurance for this exists. The French words "Hommes, prenez courage, Jésus est né!" were provided by the Huron Paul Picard. The English version, "'Twas in the moon of wintertime," is by Jesse Edgar Middleton (1926). The tune is related to a 16th-century French song, "Une jeune pucelle." During the 20th century the song was harmonized and arranged variously for voice, choir and instruments (eg, by Healey WILLAN), and many printed and recorded versions now exist.