Christmas Carols and Their Stories
Puzzle 48 · Carols of Many Lands · Page 70 in print
The Huron Carol
Jean de Brebeuf, the Jesuit long linked with the Huron Carol, was called Echon by the Hurons. Born in Normandy in 1593, he wrote a dictionary and a grammar of their language.
Jump to a word
The words
Ahatonhia
From Jesous Ahatonhia (“Jesus Is Born”), the Wendat title.
Georgian Bay
Region near which Brébeuf is said to have taught the song.
Healey Willan
Canadian composer who arranged the carol for the pageant Brébeuf.
Huron
The Huron (Wendat) people, for whom the carol was made.
The Canadian Encyclopedia (opens a new tab) · The Canadian Encyclopedia (2) (opens a new tab)
Jean de Brebeuf
Jean de Brébeuf, Jesuit missionary traditionally credited with the words.
The Canadian Encyclopedia (opens a new tab) · The Canadian Encyclopedia (2) (opens a new tab) · biographi.ca: BRÉBEUF, JEAN DE (Échon) (opens a new tab)
Jesuit
The order of Brébeuf and Villeneuve.
biographi.ca: BRÉBEUF, JEAN DE (Échon) (opens a new tab) · The Canadian Encyclopedia (opens a new tab)
Lorette
Jeune Lorette near Quebec, where Villeneuve served 1747–94.
The Canadian Encyclopedia (opens a new tab) · Myrand, Noëls anciens de la Nouvelle-France (opens a new tab)
Middleton
Jesse Edgar Middleton, author of the English version (1926).
The Canadian Encyclopedia (opens a new tab) · The Canadian Encyclopedia (2) (opens a new tab)
Midland
Ontario town where Sainte-Marie stands.
saintemarieamongthehurons.on.ca: Sainte-Marie (opens a new tab)
Paul Picard
Wendat notary who put the words into French.
The Canadian Encyclopedia (opens a new tab) · The Canadian Encyclopedia (2) (opens a new tab)
Postage Stamp
Canada’s 1977 Christmas stamps illustrated the carol.
Ragueneau
Jesuit whom some credited with the words instead of Brébeuf.
Myrand, Noëls anciens de la Nouvelle-France (opens a new tab)
Sainte-Marie
Sainte-Marie among the Hurons, the Jesuit mission headquarters (1639–1649).
saintemarieamongthehurons.on.ca: Sainte-Marie (opens a new tab)
Villeneuve
Father Étienne-Thomas de Villeneuve, the Jesuit who wrote the words down.
The Canadian Encyclopedia (opens a new tab) · Myrand, Noëls anciens de la Nouvelle-France (opens a new tab)
Wendat
The Wendat (Huron) language of the original words.
The Canadian Encyclopedia (opens a new tab) · saintemarieamongthehurons.on.ca: Sainte-Marie (opens a new tab)
Sources
- The Canadian Encyclopedia (Historica Canada), “Jesous Ahatonhia”thecanadianencyclopedia.ca
- The Canadian Encyclopedia (Historica Canada), “Huron Carol” by Helmut Kallmannthecanadianencyclopedia.ca
- BRÉBEUF, JEAN DE (Échon)Dictionary of Canadian Biography (University of Toronto / Université Laval), “Brébeuf, Jean de”
- Ernest Myrand, Noëls anciens de la Nouvelle-France, Québec, 1899 (CIHM microfiche on Internet Archive)Internet Archive
- Sainte-MarieSainte-Marie among the Hurons (Huronia Historical Parks), official site