Excerpt from Christmas at the Mission (Sula): "Christmas Carols"

 

book illustrations by Zhenya Yanovich

an early Christmas gift...an excerpt from Christmas at the Mission by the famous and beloved Sula, Parish cat at Old Mission

Christmas Carols

Music is such an important part of our life at the Mission. At every Mass we sing hymns, liturgical songs, and excerpts from the Psalms. Christmas, though, has special songs. People call them Christmas carols.

There are many different Christmas carols. Each carol tells a different part of the story of what happened at and shortly after the birth of Jesus. Here are some. I am sure you know others:

·       O, Little Town of Bethlehem is about the city where Jesus was born.

·       Silent Night is about the time when Jesus was born.

·       Away in a Manger talks about the place where Jesus was born.

·       What Child Is This? is about Jesus himself.

·       The First Noel is about the angels telling the shepherds about the birth of Jesus.

·       We Three Kings is about the magi who brought gifts to the baby Jesus.

When people go from house to house in town, singing carols for anyone who will open their doors, it is called caroling. People who moved here from places where there is snow tell me stories about how they used to go caroling in the cold, dark evenings, and when they were done, they gathered at one of the houses for hot cocoa. (Well, not exactly good for a cat; better to give us warm water.)

There is another word for caroling, wassailing. It is British. I mention it because one hears that word in some Christmas songs, like Here We Come A-Wassailing. (If you don’t know that song, just Google it!) Actually, wassailing, which took place in England, was a little different from caroling. People who went from door to door, singing carols, carried a bowl of hot punch (the wassail bowl) and offered drinks in exchange for gifts. Interesting how different countries do similar things differently, isn’t it?

Years ago, there was a lot more caroling taking place than nowadays. At least, though, some people still do it—and at our Mission, before Midnight Mass, everyone sings carols.

Here is a fun fact about caroling. In old England, when Queen Victoria was the ruler, people would take hand bells (yes, more bells!!) with them. As they sang, they would also play the music on the hand bells. How delightful! Maybe someday people here will do that!

Most of the parishes in our area have a Spanish Mass. For the most part, the customs are the same among the parishioners who attend the Spanish Mass and those who attend the English Mass. However, the Mexicans and Mexican-Americans in our community have a very special tradition, call Las Posadas, which look a little like caroling, because they go from house to house in a procession. But there is a big difference in intent and activities. This procession reenacts the life of Joseph and Mary as they are looking for an inn. The children dress up as Mary and Jos
eph and carry the baby Jesus. Some children are also angels or shepherds. Some carry sticks with bells, like the shepherds’ rods. To make them, typically they paint broomsticks and sometimes add tinsel. The people in the procession carry candles and sing songs special Posada songs as they walk along. At each house they stop it, they are refused entry just like Mary and Joseph were refused. Finally, they reach a house that lets them in. The “crash pad”—like the manger where Joseph and Mary ended up. (Secret! They plan the house in advance.) At that house, they sing. Then they pray el rosario (the rosary). Then—they have a feast, with hot chocolate! Think about it. It is cold in December. Everyone needs hot chocolate to warm up. The children look forward to this last house because they get treats in a brown bag: cacahuates (peanuts), los tomys (hard milk candies), los galletos (cookies), and an orange. The treats might be a little different in other parts of the United States and Mexico, but here in our area, these are the expected treats. If the family can afford it, the children get to break a piñata. Everyone takes off their costumes and leave them at this house when they leave. Why? Because the next day, they will come to this house and get dressed up again—and start another procession that ends at another house. Las Posadas last an entire week.

Alas, I do not get to participate in any of these lovely activities. I very cautiously stay around the Mission grounds. I know I can get lost if I stray far—and my Mission is not “out there.” It is “in here,” That is what is important to me. It is what I love to do, at Christmas or any other time of year.

  

Christmas at the Mission is on sale at half-price at the MSI Press webstore; get an additional 25% off with the coupon code FF25.

Read more posts about Christmas at the Mission: A Cat's View of Catholic Customs and Religion.

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