Olympia Choral Society

“Twas in the moon of wintertime, when all the birds had fled, That mighty Gitchi Manitou sent angel choirs instead. Before their light the stars grew dim, and wondering hunters heard the hymn - Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born, In Excelsis Gloria.

With this haunting melody, this concert displayed the joy of Christmas in the ancient native North American culture. Sometimes known as the Canadian Carol or the Huron Carol, it traces its origin to 1640, just 20 years after the landing of the Mayflower.

It was the work of a Jesuit missionary set in the Huron language to an old French tune. It demonstrated that the moon of winter was not a cultural anomaly. In honoring the many facets of Christmas , the Chorus in this concert acknowledged the magical moon of wintertime in a multitude of ways.

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