December 2009 Music

Ever since I was a child I can remember singing "Jesus Ahattonia" (more commonly known as "The Huron Carol"). I have always loved it and know of many for whom it is a favourite. I have also been aware that it was written by Jean de Brébeuf (1593-1649), but that is about it. I suspect this is true for others, so I have decided to devote this month's column to Brébeuf and his hymn, which has been dubbed Canada’s First Christmas Carol.

Jesuit missionary, Jean de Brébeuf was born in Normandy, France and came to Canada in 1625, where he remained for the rest of his life, with the exception of a four-year period when France and England were at war, and he had to return to his homeland. During his time in Canada, Brébeuf lived in Quebec and then, with the Hurons in Ontario. He learned their language and worked hard at making converts. He was not terribly successful and his life was difficult, but his experiences provided an invaluable resource for Canadian history.

In 1643, Brébeuf wrote "Jesus Ahattonia" ("Jesus, He is Born") as a way to teach the Hurons about the birth of Christ from a perspective that they could understand. It was set to a traditional French melody and later "translated" into French and English. The more poetical English version is quite different from the original, but it still carries the same basic message. The familiar, "Twas in the moon of wintertime when all the birds had fled, ..." (Common Praise # 146), in its literal translation is as follows: The okie spirit who enslaved us has fled.

Don't listen to him for he corrupts the spirits of our thoughts.
Jesus, he is born.
The okie spirits who live in the sky are coming with a message.
They're coming to say, "Rejoice! Mary has given birth. Rejoice!" Jesus, he is born.
Three men of great authority have left for the place of his birth.
Tiscient, the star appearing over the horizon leads them there.
That star will walk first on the path to guide them.
Jesus, he is born.
The star stopped not far from where Jesus was born.
Having found the place it said, "Come this way."
Jesus, he is born.
As they entered and saw Jesus they praised his name.
They oiled his scalp many times, anointing his head with the oil of the sunflower. Jesus, he is born.
They say, "Let us place his name in a position of honour." Let us act reverently towards him for he comes to show us mercy.
It is the will of the spirits that you love us, Jesus,
and we wish that we may be adopted into your family.
Jesus, he is born. Have courage, you who are human beings: Jesus, he is born.

It has been reported that Brébeuf had a charismatic presence among the Huron people, but that did not mean that his carol and his Christian teachings were embraced by all. In fact, his presence was believed to be the cause of a split between traditionalist Huron and those who wanted to adopt European culture.

In 1649, Brébeuf was caught up in a war between the Huron and Iroquois. He and other Jesuits were captured, fastened to stakes, and tortured to death by scalping, a mock baptism using boiling water poured on his head, necklaces of red-hot hatchets placed around his neck, and mutilation. According to Catholic tradition, Brébeuf did not cry out while he was being tortured. This astounded the Iroquois, who later cut out his heart and ate it in hopes of gaining his courage.

In 1930, Brébeuf was canonized, along with seven other missionaries, who became known as the Canadian Martyrs. He is a primary patron saint of Canada and his feast day is September 26.